IF THE city’s bulk water supplier gets its way, Kagay-anons will begin paying more for the water coming out of their taps by next month.
An executive of the Rio Verde Water Consortium Inc. (RVWCI) justified its application for a water rates increase saying the increase is necessary to fund the P60 million full rehabilitation of its damaged pipes to prevent further service interruptions in the future.
In a letter signed by Engineer Joffrey Hapitan, RVWCI senior vice president for operations, to the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD), Hapitan said RVWCI wants to hike the rate from P10.45 per cubic meter to P16.35 per cubic meter starting Wednesday, November 1.
The rate hike application came as a surprise, according to COWD officials who said COWD and RVWCI are now working to reach a compromise agreement.
In an interview, Hapitan clarified that the letter was not meant as a threat to the COWD but rather as an FYI.
"Wrong information man siguro na, wala man sab mi ginabuhat na ingon na mag-hostage kita because that's not really the intention naman, but what we're saying, we need an increase ilabina karon sa nahitabo na kakulian, naguba ang atong underwater pipeline, and then we need 60 million total funds to fully repair this," he said.
Hapitan explained that the damaged pipeline which was repaired last October 26, was only temporarily repaired and that the water service interruption in the western area could recur if this will not be fully rehabilitated.
"For now, it's temporarily restored pero it's not really fully rehabilitated, kay anytime naay mobalik na flashfloods, maguba nasad ni, kay kinahanglan gyud ni siya na ma fully repair," Hapitan said.
"This is why we asked for an increase aron nga maka fund para sa full rehabilitation para wala nay kahadlokan, ang services nato will be sustainable, wala nay stoppage of water services," he said.
According to Hapitan, the COWD has already rejected their request for an increase but he assured the public that the rejection does not mean an intentional water supply interruption.
Hapitan said he wants the public to understand that should the city experience another round of water service interruption, the blame should squarely fall on the COWD and not on RVWCI.
"Never blame us kung ma shut down. Kung mag shut down mi, you just have to wait kung kanus-a mi mobangon," he added.
The Rio Verde is asking the P16.35 water rate increase, the same price that the MetroPac is also asking.
Engineer Bienvenido Batar Jr., COWD assistant general manager, said they are readying contingency measures should RVWCI make good on its earlier plan to reduce water pressure.
"Ready na among tankers kung naay drop sa delivery, we also established public faucets which are strategically located," he said.
Batar is also asking the Rio Verde that discussions should be made first before making decisions which would affect the public.