THE Bacolod City Council approved a resolution seeking an explanation and adjustment from the management of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) behind the hefty increase in water consumption reading from the billing period of April to June 2020.

The resolution was authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., chairperson of the City Council committee on human rights.

Gamboa said the April and May water billing were all based on a computed average water consumption reading.

"June 2020 reading has been estimated to have a 100 percent increase from the average water consumption reading," he said.

He added that Baciwa management earlier issued a statement apologizing for the erroneous billings they issued last month.

Gamboa noted that based on Baciwa’s statement, signed by its manager Juliana Carbon, it states that Baciwa apologizes to the consuming public for the erroneous billing issued for June.

The management said that Baciwa is making the corrections in the billing statement and the corresponding adjustments will be reflected in the July bills.

"So we are asking them to explain how they came up with the hefty increase on the water billing," Gamboa said.

He said they will hold a public hearing with the Baciwa management next week to explain its overcharging.

Gamboa disclosed that Republic Act No. 11469 Section 4 (u) of Bayanihan Law or "Bayanihan to Heal as One" Act mandates to provide sufficient supply of power, fuel, energy and water to protect the people from profiteers, cartels, monopolies and other pernicious practices.