DISGRUNTLED residents of Barangay Lumbia in Cagayan de Oro City are calling for the City Government's intervention to resolve their water woes.
The call came after Barangay Lumbia's water supplier, Kyogojo Engineering Services Cooperative, bared its plan to increase the minimum water charge from P168 to P300 per 10 cubic meter.
The plan was met with protests from residents, who insisted that the increase will be illegal since it was not approved by the village council and no public consultation was done.
The barangay council held a special session on Monday, June 24, and agreed to ask help from the City Government for solutions to the water problem.
The council also agreed that Kyogojo will still be allowed to supply water in Lumbia while the matter is still being resolved.
Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr., chairperson of the committee on public utilities, said he is set to hold a committee hearing, inviting officials from Lumbia and the Kyogojo management.
City Administrator Teodoro Sabuga-a Jr. said they are waiting for a copy of the barangay resolution, as well as the residents' petition to study what steps shall be taken next.
Meanwhile, a day after the protest, Kyogojo decided to move out from its office, but barangay officials were surprised with what the company's workers left behind.
Water and electricity connection were cut, glass windows were broken and taken out, as if, intentionally, said barangay councilor Jan Calam.
Calam said they are still studying possible legal action against Kyogojo for the damage it caused to the facility.