Monday, September 29, 2008 Water district awaits board's decision to settle rift with Hedcor By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Davao City Water District (DCWD) awaits the decision of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to settle the rift between the water utility and the power utility -- Hedcor Inc., over the use of the Tamugan River.
The NWRB conducted a survey of the area last September 8-12. It is scheduled to release their findings anytime soon.
In an interview Friday, Imelda Magsuci, DCWD finance manager, said the resolution of the NWRB would determine whether it is good to grant the power utility's request to tap the water source of Tamugan River for their hydro power plant or not.
"They will also look into the possibility of the coexistence of the two companies in the area," Magsuci said.
The water utility and the power utility are caught in a deadlock over the use of the Tamugan River.
Authorities of the water utility said that if they would be moved to a lower elevation, they would not be able to serve the surrounding villages that are on a higher elevation.
"They want us to move to a lower part, but how can we serve the villages upstream? It will be too costly for us. Instead of letting gravity take the water to its course, we now have to use pumps, if we follow the proposal of Hedcor," Magsuci said.
The power firm, on the other hand, has to be at the contested elevation where the needed speed of the water can be attained for its turbines to run.
