“COMMITMENT is an act, not a word,” says the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. True. If we are to believe Juliana Carbon, the general manager of Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA), that Bacolod Bulk Water, Inc. (BBWI) still fails to deliver its commitment from its Injection Point No. 1 and 2. Carbon said that Injection Point No. 2 has not delivered any drop of water to Baciwa while it only delivers an average of 9.5 million liters per day from its Injection Point No. 1. However, June 2018, lawyer King Martinez, spokesperson of BBWI, said “We have been supplying potable water to the pipeline of Baciwa since inauguration. It’s not disputed that the water supplied by BBWI was transmitted to Baciwa’s customers and consumed.” Two lawyers. Two conflicting assertions. As another Atty Alett Núñez, the provincial legal officer once quipped, “Get 100 lawyers and expect 100 different opinions.” Alett was referring to the objections of another lawyer Atty Benjamin Ramos to the formulation of the draft of the provincial ordinance against genetically modified organisms (GMOs). What is truth, asked Pontius Pilate? Who cares? I’m a court-annexed mediator, focused not on the legal issues but the interest basis of a conflict. All I’m interested is: “Give. Us. Water. 24/7.” That’s all. Here in Alijis, residents have something to be joyful. For the past week, water has been flowing in our pipelines. Carbon said Baciwa already started to receive water supply from Murcia Water District since July 3 and that water supplies are now improving in the areas of Paglaum Village, Mansilingan and nearby areas such as Alijis. But I’m giving the water utility a month before rejoicing and pop open the champagne. We have been there before. Promises. Promises. BACIWA is unreliable in fulfilling its deliverables. I’m not concerned with BBWI. I didn’t sign up with them but with BACIWA who is accountable to delivering tap water to its concessionaires. I remember for the past how many months that we are out of water 5-6 hours, where I have to stay up late to fill our water containers. BACIWA, give us water 24/7 and I’ll leave you in peace. bqsanc@yahoomail.com