THE Davao City Water District (DCWD) admitted its "hands are tied" in the water supply issue in some Deca Homes residents in the city, saying 8990 Housing Development Corp., Deca Homes' developer, did not turn over the water supply system to DCWD.
"If ever si developer man gud dili nila i-turn over ilang water supply system kay DCWD, our hands are tied. Dili gyud mi pwede makasulod (Once the developer won't turn over their water supply system to DCWD, our hands are tied. We cannot enter their area)," DCWD deputy spokesperson Jovana Cresa Duhaylungsod told SunStar Davao in a phone interview on Monday, December 9.
She said unless the 8990 Housing grants DCWD the authority to provide water supply to the residential area, they cannot conduct excavation for pipe-laying purposes.
She admitted that they have been receiving numerous petitions from Deca homeowners.
Duhaylungsod also admitted that no existing national law grants DCWD to be the sole water concessionaire in the city, adding that housing developers are granted authority to select their own water supplier for the area.
The official also said that DCWD currently suspended its new water service connection application, while waiting for the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP), which is expected to operate within the first half of 2021.
Some residents of Deca Homes aired their grievances against 8990 Housing and BPWaterworks, the subdivision's water provider, for the latter's poor water service such as on and off water supply, discolored water, and questionable water rate.
Deca Homes Mintal resident Derf Maiz posted a series of online posts about Deca home owners' struggle in their water supply for some years now.
Maiz also posted some photos of water bills, showing one almost reached P12,000 in just a month. He said the homeowner who sent a photo of his water bill online said they had been settling with the subdivision just three month ago.
"It happened also to us. Nakalimot na ko kung pila. Pero first few months namo pagpuyo, taas kaayo. Around 3,000 for one month. Ingon sa BPWaterworks, naay leak ang among koneksyon sa tubig. Pero dili na ka makarason kay gidawat nimo (through the contract) na gi-occupy nimo ang unit without any problem [sic] (I forgot how much. But during the first few months since we resided, the bill was very much high. It reached around P3,000 for one month. According to an official from BPWaterworks, there was a pipe leak in our water connection. But you cannot do anything about it because you already accepted it (through the contract) that you had occupied the unit without any problem)," he said in his Facebook post.
He added, "Dihang mangutana ka sa BPWaterworks, ang ingon nila 'Wala miy mabuhat kay sa leak na. Pwede ra ninyo i-settle in terms ang bill and pwede discounted.' [sic] (When we asked BPWaterworks about it, they just told us 'We cannot do anything about it because it is brought about by the leaks. You can settle the bill, and you could have it discounted.)"
Other Deca Homes in some parts of the city, according to Maiz's post, also experience the same problem.
Maiz also posted an order from the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB)-Davao for the developers of Deca Homes Esperanza in Tigatto to temporarily prevent them from further selling of lots and collecting amortization payments from their existing buyers unless permitted by HLURB, or until such time that they would be able to settle the poor water service in the area.
The order came after Deca Homes Esperanza Homeowners Association filed a case against 8990 Housing for violation of Presidential Decree 957, or Regulating the Sale of Subdivision Lots, Condominiums, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof.
The 8990 Housing, according to the HLURB order, said they are already working to address the situation by installing a Multimedia Filtration System and Water Softener Treatment.
Aside from the regular waterlines flushing, the developer said BPWaterworks will temporarily sell and supply Dumoy Water. It also said they will create an ad hoc consultative committee to address the situation.
SunStar Davao tried to reach HLURB for comment, but a representative said the head official has yet to comment on it.
Meanwhile, BPWaterworks and 8990 Housing are not responding to Sunstar's online and text messages.