THE city’s bulk water supplier has previously expressed its interest in taking over the operations of the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD), the former general manager of the water utility said.
According to engineer Rachel Beja, Metro Pacific Water Investments Corporation (MPWIC) already wanted to submit a proposal for a joint venture agreement on water distribution some two years ago.
Beja said it was first introduced by MetroPac to COWD’s previous Board of Directors in October 2016. In 2017, the idea was again reintroduced to the new Board of Directors and was finally discussed and presented just this February 2018.
The former manager said she requested to put the new proposal on hold in 2016 because, first, they were busy on other pressing matters and second, because she said she had reservations on the new plan.
"I have no problem that COWD partners with the private sector because we can get a lot from them and they surely can help us, but it's another story when they take over the operations because I so believe that the COWD is still very much capable," she said.
Beja said whoever controls the water utility’s operations would naturally be able to dictate the water rates.
"Although they wouldn't call it privatized, but in a sense it is already privatization. If a private entity handles the operation we know that their priority would be the profit, and the service of the people will come in second," she said.
In the hearing of Councilor Teodulfo Lao's public utilities committee Tuesday, March 20, Lao said he hopes that the public will be more involved in the possible new joint venture agreement.
"The public should know and the COWD has the responsibility to let the people understand. Unlike what happened in the previous joint venture, we only knew of it when it was already up for signing," he said.
The COWD's management and its Board of Directors were a no-show during Tuesday's committee hearing.
Lao said their inquiries and hearings will push through without the mayor's blessing, but it will not touch Beja's termination and will instead focus on the issues surrounding the contract with MetroPac.
"The executive and legislative are two different branches of government, they are co-equal body, they are interdependent so we will do what we want to do, and we also respect the mayor's decision to do what he intends to do," Lao said, in response to Mayor Oscar Moreno's statement telling them to exclude themselves from Beja's termination.
Beja's legal counsel, lawyer Mary Camille Perez-Quililan, said that they will press charges against the COWD management for padlocking Beja's office.
Perez-Quililan called the actions "harassment" and said it was unnecessary for the COWD to padlock her client's office as there was no unrest and resistance.
"I don't know the basis, but they will have to wait because we are preparing to file cases against them, for now we are still studying but definitely we'll be filing cases against them, particularly about the supervening events that happened after the termination," she said.