THE Lapu-Lapu City Government is expected to intervene on the complaints of the homeowners of a subdivision over the rate the developer is charging them for water that is 2,200 percent higher than the water rate of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).

In a press conference on Monday, March 27, 2023, Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said the city government will intervene in the matter once he receives the letter that homeowners of Sunberry Homes in Sudtonggan in Barangay Basak had sent to his office and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Chan said he has no idea yet about the “disproportionate” P350 per cubic meter rate charged to the residents by the management of Sunberry Homes Inc.

“We will pass that to our Unified Homeowners Association office for possible action and study and what is their recommendation,” said Chan.

Meanwhile, DHSUD’s Public Assistance Service said they already acted on the requests of the homeowners.

“We cannot give further comments on the ongoing complaint and we already acted on it,” it said in a text message on March 27.

Engineer Antonio Dosado, one of the complainants, said he had not yet received any information from DHSUD about its actions as of 11 a.m. on Monday.

“We have requested for engineers to conduct a site inspection of the water system, but so far we never heard any update yet from them,” said Dosado.

An official of Sunberry Homes Inc., who asked not to be named, explained last Wednesday, March 22, that the P350 per cubic meter was billed to the homeowners since the developer had no choice but to get clean water supply from third-party suppliers.

She said they initially applied for water supply from MCWD; however, the latter said it had no available water supply or source yet in that area.