• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Two lawyer-councilors said that Baciwa-PrimeWater should install and maintain fully operational standby power generators in all its water pumping stations in Bacolod to ensure continuous water distribution even during power interruptions.
In the proposed ordinance approved on first reading by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Aug. 20, councilors Caesar Distrito and Dindo Ramos said that frequent and prolonged power interruptions in Bacolod directly affect the operation of Baciwa-PrimeWater’s pumping stations, resulting in water shortages and disruption of supply to households, hospitals, schools, and business establishments.
There is need to require Baciwa-PrimeWater to install standby generators that shall automatically start once power has failed and stop once power is restored, to ensure “an uninterrupted water supply to consumers despite power outages, thereby protecting the welfare, health, and sanitation of the people of Bacolod”, the proposal added.
PrimeWater Bacolod City has been posting advisories on water service interruptions as the operations of its wells were interrupted due to power outages.
These past days, it said that the operations of wells 41, 42, 43, 15, 29, 30, 31, among others, have been affected due to power outages, or voltage fluctuation, affecting the supply of water in several areas across Bacolod.
Under the proposed ordinance up for public hearing and subsequent SP deliberations, the generators should be installed in all water pumping stations owned, operated, and managed by Baciwa-PrimeWater.
Failure to comply provisions of this ordinance shall subject the company to a fine of P5,000 per day of noncompliance beyond the prescribed period; and referral of the matter to the Local Water Utilities Administration and appropriate regulatory agencies for possible sanctions, including suspension or revocation of franchise/operating permits, it added. | CGC
