CEBU City Mayor Edgardo Labella said a consortium reportedly offered a price triple from the current price per cubic meter of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).
“With this in mind, I trust that you will keep the interest of the Cebuanos paramount at all times and refrain from proceeding any further with this transaction,” he said in a letter to MCWD.
As of now, MCWD is buying water for P32 per cubic meter from its current private water supplier.
Labella, in his letter, asked MCWD for an update on its negotiations with the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC)-Aboitiz consortium, which proposed to supply 100,000 cubic meters of water per day from a desalination plant in Lapu-Lapu City.
MCWD has accepted the MPIC-Aboitiz consortium’s proposal but negotiations are still ongoing on the matter of price of water per cubic meter.
“Considering that the proposal and any corresponding contract that may be entered into between MCWD and the proponents may have an impact on the price of water to the consuming public, I would like to be apprised of the terms of the ongoing negotiation, the proposed price per cubic meter, as well as the status of the proposal,” Labella said.
He said that it is his primary concern to ensure that public interest is protected on all contracts entered into by MCWD, especially if it involves an increase in rates.
The mayor also asked for an update on the solutions of the water district on the current water shortage problems experienced by city consumers.
MCWD spokesperson Charmaine Kara said the negotiation is in accordance with the joint venture guidelines set by the National Economic and Development Authority.
“MCWD has no agreement or contract with the consortium or any party in relation to a bulk supply of 100 million liters (equivalent to 100,000 cubic meters) per day of desalinated water,” Kara said.
The members of the MCWD board are Joel Mari Yu, former councilor Augustus Pe Jr., lawyers Ralph Sevilla and Cecilia Adlawan, and former councilor Procopio Fernandez.
MCWD favors a developer that has an advanced technology, offers a low price per cubic meter of water.
Labella wants to meet with officers involved in the negotiation since any contract signed by MCWD that entails higher cost will affect consumers from the city.FROM PAC OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / MVG