Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Editorial: Battle over water
RIGHT now, there is a "word war" between officials of the City of San Fernando Water District (CSFWD) and the Balibago Waterworks System Incorporated (BWSI) over who should supply safe and potable water in a sitio in Barangay Telabastagan.
Last week, a story came out in Sun.Star Pampanga that City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez ordered to stop the ongoing expansion project of the BWSI, after learning that the firm's subsidiary, the S&L Waterworks System, Inc. (SLWSI), failed to secure a permit to construct in the area.
Officials of the CSFWD said that the SLWSI has illegally extended its operations in the community, and that this should be put to a stop, citing the former's priority programs in the said area.
BWSI officials, on the other hand, were quick to say that the CSFWD "failed to bring water service to the village despite the residents' long-time clamor for safe and potable water supply.
This is why barangay officials in Telabastagan "explored other options" and negotiated with the BWSI to supply them with water.
Uh-oh.
A lot of questions are hanging in the air at the moment, some of which we know are already on your minds. For one... how long have Telabastagan residents been appealing to the CSFWD to provide them with water that they became so impatient and asked an "outsider" for their services?
If the residents have been asking the CSFWD for their services, what took them so long?
Shouldn't the BWSI ask some kind of clearance from the CSFWD before they "take over" the latter's turf?
Shouldn't the officials be talking to themselves about this, cease with their word war, and finally end this impending battle for water?
Not that we don't welcome their statements or their letters airing their sides of the story. Of course we do. But the issue here is providing safe and potable water to the residents of Telabastagan soon, and not squabble with one another with something they can resolve for themselves one way or the other.
Officials of the two camps should do this, too, soon, before things get out of hand.
Things seem to be getting out of hand.
(July 18, 2006 issue)
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