ILOILO City – The dwindling water supply forced the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to declare the city under a state of calamity on April 26. To address the problem, water rationing in 73 villages was proposed.
But one month after the declaration, there is still no development in the proposed measure.
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) cannot proceed with procurement of water for rationing sans a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the city government and the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD), the identified provider.
General Services Office (GSO) head Joren Sartorio said there is “no movement” at the BAC office as far as the purchase request for the water supply is concerned.
Sartorio reiterated that the approved budget for the contract (ABC) still needs approval from MIWD’s Board of Directors.
“Wala kita sang MOA with the MIWD…Wala movement,” stressed Sartorio.
The budget for the proposed rationing is P23 per cubic meter of water.
“For as long as wala kita agreement with MIWD, indi man naton ma-recognize nga valid ang P23 nga ABC. Kung wala sang approved MOA, indi gid kahulag ang mga papeles unless mabaylo ta sa P80 per cubic meter nga indi naman reasonable,” Sartorio further said.
The city was placed under a state of calamity after City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Donna Magno told the SP that the metro met three out of five conditions outlined in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s Memorandum No. 86-2018, which sets the guidelines for such declaration to happen.
These conditions were:
* at least 20 percent of the population are affected and in need of emergency assistance or whose dwelling units have been destroyed
* widespread destruction of fishponds, crops, poultry and livestock, and other agricultural products
* disruption of lifelines such as electricity, potable water system, transport system, communications systems and other related systems which cannot be restored within one week, except for highly-urbanized areas where restoration of the of the above lifelines cannot be made within 24 hours./PN
