BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – Now may seem a tempting time to privatize the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).
“The water district as a government agency is a failure,” Cong. Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City told Panay News yesterday.
On Saturday, Flo Water Resources Iloilo, Inc. stopped delivering water to MIWD.
According to the bulk water supplier, the water district failed to pay it.
Citing the “growing desperate situation” in Iloilo City, Treñas said he supports the privatization of the city’s sole water distributor.
“Water is very important – a component of growth,” stressed Treñas.
The congressman said water supply and distribution in Metro Manila improved because these were privatized.
Manila Water Company, Inc. serves the East Zone of Metro Manila while Maynilad Water Services, Inc. covers the West Zone.
“They are success stories…regulated by the government agency like Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System,” according to Treñas.
Iloilo City’s water supply and distribution problem will adversely affect its growth, he warned.
Apparently, the congressman said, MIWD has failed to keep pace with the demands of the growing and fast-developing city.
In 2002, MIWD tapped bulk water suppliers Flo Water and Prime Water Ventures Corp. to improve its inadequate water supply.
But since Prime Water also gets water from Flo Water, it has stopped delivering water to MIWD as well on Saturday.
Prime Water has collectibles with MIWD, too.
“MIWD should always think that it exists for the public. If it cannot find meaning to its existence, perhaps we have to look for other creative ways to sustain the appetite of the growing metropolis,” stressed Treñas.
Dr. Danilo Encarnacion, chair of the MIWD Board of Directors, admitted that the water district cannot afford paying Flo Water P5 million a month as agreed during a meeting on May 5.
Treñas is convinced that privatization is a solution, and urged the Ilonggos to study this concept.
He said he will not meddle in MIWD’s financial problem with Flo Water.
“Mga issues subong daw capacity to pay sang MIWD na gid abi,” he told Panay News, adding, “Kon capacity to pay na, basi lain na ang kinahanglan sina. Legal na ina. Indi na kabayad kay wala na inog bayad.”
On March 6, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability held an inquiry on the water problems in Iloilo City.
Treñas is the vice chairman of the committee.
That congressional inquiry showed MIWD’s financial losses and deep indebtedness to its bulk water suppliers.
Treñas said he is not keen on calling for another congressional inquiry./PN
