Monday, October 29, 2007 Water firm a no-show in council hearing By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO City Councilor Jose Louie Villafuerte expressed his disappointment over the absence of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) officials in the second public hearing called for the by the committee on government enterprises and privatization on the water utility's proposed P100-million loan.
The loan, which will fund DCWD's Comprehensive Mainline Replacement Projects, met the opposition of Consumer Alert and Namadacwad and DCWD's own workers' union saying the loan is not necessary considering that DCWD has enough resources to cover the cost of the program.
The groups claim that the loan could possibly lead to a water rate increase.
Through a written request, Consumer Alert and Namadacwad asked the City Council to investigate the proposed loan and verify its merits. Thus, the committee on government enterprises and privatization chaired by Villafuerte called for two public hearings.
The first hearing was attended by both parties with Consumer-Alert stating the reasons for their opposition. The second hearing was supposedly for DCWD's turn to present its plans and financial statements which will prove they indeed need to avail of the loan.
But in his privilege speech Thursday, Villafuerte said the DCWD Board and Management chose not to attend and participate.
In their letter dated October 15, 2007, DCWD general manager Rodora Gamboa wrote that they intend to call for a joint executive-legislative forum within the first and second weeks of November to present the plans and programs of DCWD as well as to clarify the issues brought by Consumer Alert, thus finding no reason to attend the hearing.
Arrogant absence
"I raise on this privilege to express my disappointment over such arrogant absence of DCWD Board and Management. Like us, they are public servants who must always be subservient to the interest of the people. Management prerogative always bends before public welfare and interest," Villafuerte said.
"Let them be reminded of the fact that in this issue, it is their burden to explain to the public in clear and unequivocal language the allegation posed against their plan," Villafuerte added.
Should DCWD really hold the forum, Villafuerte said he fervently hopes that the various concerned groups and the public at large be invited to witness and interact with the proponents of the plan.
"The explaining must be to the people more than to the members of the executive and legislative branches of our city government because of the public's right to know about issues that concern them," Villafuerte said.
