BACOLOD City – Amid mounting consumer complaints, the Sangguniang Panlungsod here has ordered Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) to explain the “hefty increase” in the water bills of their consumers for the past three months.
This move came after the SP passed a resolution during its regular session on Wednesday.
Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., author of the resolution, cited that Baciwa’s April and May water billing where all based on a computed average water consumption reading.
“On June reading has been estimated to have a 100 percent increase from the average water consumption reading,” he said.
Gamboa pointed out that Baciwa is a government owned and controlled corporation created by law with the task to provide clean and potable water to Bacolod City constituents and the same is imbued with public interest.
Gamboa also earlier authored a resolution requesting the management of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) to explain the increase in charges and rates during the quarantine period.
On June 30, Baciwa released an advisory apologizing to the consuming public for the erroneous billings issued for the month of June.
“The errors were brought about by the adjustments made in the billing system, during the enhanced community quarantine,” Baciwa said.
According to Baciwa, they are making the corrections in the billings and the corresponding adjustments will be reflected in the July bills.
“Consumers are advised to settle their March, April, and May bills through partial payments, in any of the collecting agents until Aug. 15,” it added./PN
