Cagayan de Oro’s water supply restored, but crisis far from over
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews)—After a weekend of no water in many parts of the city, water supply was restored in most parts on Monday. But the water crisis in this city is far from over.
The city government said it received a copy of the letter from the Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. (COBI) to the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD), the city’s sole utility firm, demanding payment of P430 millions in unpaid water bills.
COBI President Christopher Andrew Pangilinan told the water district that unless it pays the bill in 30 days from the day the demand letter was sent last February 29, water will be cut off throughout the city. COBI is the bulk supplier of treated water of COWD.
The COWD, which has a total of 146,630 subscribers as of December 31, 2022, has balked in paying COBI apparently over disagreement on price, and asked the help of the city government to settle the dispute.
Mayor Rolando Uy organized a task force led by Councilor Edgar Cabanlas to investigate the transaction between the COWD and COBI, saying he had to intervene since the water crisis has already affected thousands of residents.
Uy said he would not hesitate to intervene if the Cabanlas-led investigation will find that the residents got short end of the deal between COBI and COWD.
He told reporters he could also ask the court to rescind the transaction
The City Council will also conduct an investigation this week to be led by Councilor Romeo Calizo, chair of the public utilities and traffic management committee.
“The people are duped by the two corporations when they said that last weekend was a problem of repairs on the pipes but the non-payment is the real issue here,” Cabanlas said.
Last weekend, residents were left thirsty and dry after the COWD cut the water supply to at least 26 barangays in the city.
COWD general manager Engineer Antonio Young told reporters they have to cut off the water supply to the city to allow bulk supplier COBI to perform major repairs on a major pipe in its distribution system.
Firetrucks and water tanks from the Bureau of Fire Protection and other private companies supplied the water throughout the affected areas.
Formed in 2017, COBI is a joint venture between Metro Pacific Water owned by businessman Manny Pangilinan and COWD, the sole water utility firm in Cagayan de Oro.
Metro Pacific Water holds 95 percent equity while COWD, the remaining 5 percent and the distribution and supply of water to the city.
COBI gets its supply of bulk water from Rio Verde, a company owned by businessman Pepito Alvarez, who has a 100-million liter a day water treatment facility in Baungon, Bukidnon. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)