• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Water supplier Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI) assured concessionaires in Bacolod City of continued water supply after PrimeWater-Bacolod City settled its outstanding obligations on Dec. 13.
“Normal operations shall continue to support the uninterrupted water service with Bacolod City,” the BBWI said in a statement over the weekend.
Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he is closely coordinating with Mayor Greg Gasataya, the City Council, Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa), BBWI and PrimeWater to ensure that this matter will not arise again.
Benitez also called on all parties to exercise prudence and responsibility in issuing statements.
“While transparency is important, communications that may cause unnecessary panic, confusion, or anxiety among the public should be avoided,” he added.
On Dec. 12, Baciwa chairperson Sonia Verdeflor warned of a possible shutdown after PrimeWater allegedly failed to pay P11 million in bulk water deliveries since September, prompting the supplier to issue a final extension until Dec. 14.
At least 40 percent of Baciwa-PrimeWater’s water supply is sourced from BBWI’s treatment facilities.
“It is very unfortunate that after the city’s intervention to resolve the same issue last July, another one arose under the watch of Baciwa, who has the ultimate and primary obligation under its current joint venture agreement with PrimeWater to ensure that no water crisis will never occur in Bacolod,” Gasataya said.
“We will never allow that the welfare of our constituents will be prejudiced and compromised, just because someone is remiss of its contractual obligations,” he added. | GB
