IN A letter sent to the Office of Honorable Roger Kitma, Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Tuba and forwarded by the latter to the Office of Baguio City Vice Mayor Honorable Edison Bilog, several residents of Tuba reiterated their opposition to the planned operation of the City’s mini hydro facilities in Asin, Tuba Benguet.
Citing an “Asin Impasse”, councilor Kitma expressed his thoughts through his letter as he takes the cudgel of responsibility for his constituency in Tuba.
Although considered unofficial, he bared the reason for the continued opposition of several residents in Tuba in the planned restoration of the operation of the Asin mini-hydro facilities among which are allegedly the following: (1) an unsatisfied clamor for payment rentals and (2) the absence of activities that are mutually beneficial to the affected residents and the city, which is mainly the maintenance of flume lines upon which residents depend upon for water used domestically or for farming.
He added that it has been a long time since the hydros were made operational and the alleged continuing deferral of activity in the area had apparently made the residents therein restive.
Kitma also revealed that if the city continues to delay the payment of computed rentals and the apparent absence of its active presence at the site will create more problems in so far as the operation of the said mini hydros and the relationship between the city and the affected Tuba residents are concerned.
It can be recalled that an earlier court approved settlement of the controversy was previously entered into by the affected Tuba residents and the city government of Baguio concerning the payment of computed rentals and a negotiation or if possible a waiver executed by the city in a case for civil damages filed by the latter against residents.
Also, the Tuba Municipal Council recently adopted Resolution 34, series of 2016, supporting the opposition of the affected residents to the intended revival of the Asin mini-hydro operation as well as the transfer of water permits from the Baguio Water District (BWD) to the city.
In his appeal to the City Council, Kitma appealed to the august body to understand the prevailing situation in so far as the affected Tuba residents are concerned explaining that the city is dealing with persons whose individual participation are not really determinable and therefore should be “overlooked” if only to create an atmosphere for better relations between the contending parties.
With the Office of Vice Mayor Bilog having been furnished with the said letter of councilor Kitma, the City Council is expected to tackle anew the issue regarding the matter even as it continues to study the contract entered into by the city with Kaltimex Energy Philippines, the winning bidder for the operation of the Asin mini-hydro facilities.
In a text message City Councilor Richard Cariño, the chairman of the Committee on Laws to which said contract has been referred to has confirmed that the agreement is already calendared in the Agenda of the august body and will be deliberated upon by the members for its confirmation.