• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod Councilor Claudio Jesus “Kalaw” Puentevella said May 22 the Baciwa-PrimeWater management has favorably acted on his request to suspend the imposition of minimum charge on consumers with low to no water supply.
Puentevella, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Energy and Public Utilities, told the Negros NOW Daily that consumers with less than five cubic meters of monthly water consumption will not be billed by the Baciwa-PrimeWater.
He said he is happy that Baciwa-PrimeWater favorably acted on his resolution, and considered the concern of residents.
“Many households suffered from zero water supply…due to the shortage or lack of water, caused by drought and dry spell brought about by the El Niño phenomenon”, hence the request, the councilor said in his resolution approved by the SP last March.
Debbie Ann Venus, commercial head of PrimeWater Bacolod, in her letter to Bacolod City Water District general manager Mona Dia Jardin with regard Puentevella’s resolution, said they are implementing “an outright suspension of the accounts having zero consumption in areas identified with 0-4 hours water supply, for April and May bills.”
These areas include barangays Tangub, Handumanan, Mandalagan, Felisa, Vista Alegre, Villamonte, Taculing, Alijis, Sum-ag, Mansilingan, Barangay 40, and Banago, as per the water availability map, as of March 15, but released by the water concessioner early this month.
“Supply of water in these areas are greatly affected due to El Niño since there have been a decrease in the supply from the bulk water supplier,” the Baciwa-PrimeWater earlier explained, adding it “actively pursues several initiatives to continuously improve water services.” | CGC
