BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – “Brace yourselves. Prepare for the worst.”
Thus said Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 director Helen Catalbas when asked for advice with regard to the threat of Flo Water Resources Iloilo, Inc. to stop “flowing” if the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) fails to pay its debt allegedly amounting to P111 million on or before May 12.
While admitting that the ensuing water scarcity would somehow harm the tourism industry, Catalbas said that, as in the past, water from alternative commercial sources would still be available.
Catalbas, however, expressed optimism.
“We pray he will change his mind,” she said, referring to Flo Water chairman Rogelio Florete Sr.
The total number of tourists coming to the city in a year is more than the total population of the residents, Catalbas revealed.
MIWD had refused to pay Flo Water P111 million for the latter’s contracted 15,000 cubic meters of daily water supply, arguing that only a maximum of 5,000 cubic meters of water actually enters the water district’s pipeline.
But Flo Water said it should not be blamed for the inability of MIWD’s “bottleneck” receptacle to accommodate the volume of water from its bigger pipes.
Florete had been warning MIWD as early as November last year. That month, MIWD’s accumulated obligation to Flo Water already reached P80 million.
But despite MIWD’s non-payment, Flo Water continued to supply the water district.
According to Florete, the current situation is unfair on their part.
“This is very unjust,” said Florete.
Records show MIWD has not made payment to Flo Water since February 16, 2013.
In a previous interview, Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon said the water problem in Iloilo City boiled down to MIWD’s inability to deliver water to the consumers’ faucets.
“It’s more a problem on distribution than of supply,” Drilon told Panay News. “The water pipes of MIWD only serve 25 percent of the city’s total population.”
In a congressional inquiry held just this March on the lingering water lack in Iloilo City and suburbs, Cong. Oscar Rodriguez, presiding officer, urged MIWD and Flo Water to implement a “win-win” solution./PN
