'Irate' Lumbia folk stage protest vs water supplier

BARANGAY Lumbia in Cagayan de Oro City is now pushing to replace its private water supplier after disclosing its plan to increase water rates starting July 1.

Residents of Barangay Lumbia staged a protest against Kyogojo Engineering Service Cooperative (KESC) for planning to impose a P300 per 10 cubic meter increase of water consumption from P168 per cubic meter.

Barangay councilor Jan Venhor Calam said they were surprised when Kyogojo suddenly announced the increase starting July 1 even without holding a public consultation first, and without the approval of the village council.

Calam said residents are angry that Kyogojo is proposing for an increase when it still provide poor services since it started nine years ago.

"Nangayo mi sa mga documents unsay ilang basehan sa increase, pero wala silay mapakita. Muingon sila nga naa daw memorandum of agreement sa una nga administration pero expired naman kadto," he added.

He said some residents in the barangay still have no water, while others suffer intermittent supply especially when it rains.

He said the residents will submit to an increase if Kyogojo upgrade their services.

Calam said Barangay Lumbia will be forced to look for other water supplier if Kyogojo will insist on increasing the water rates.

"We will hold a special session nga ipapahawa na sila kay mao man gusto sa mga tao," he added.

City Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr., chairperson of the committee on public utilities, said he will look into the background of Kyogojo to verify if it has permit to supply water.

Lao also noted that without a public consultation, it is impossible to increase the water rates.