by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–The Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) had decided to cancel or terminate its joint venture agreement with Prime Water due to the latter’s failure to comply with many provisions of their water supply contract to the consumers.
LMWD general manager Ronnie Cornico told the media that the board of directors had approved a resolution terminating LMWD’s agreement with Prime Water, based on the results of the panel investigation on the complaints raised about violations on water supply provision.
Cornico also said that the approved resolution of terminating the agreement with Prime Water was already sent to the Local Water Utilities and Administration (LWUA) so that the agency will also conduct its own verification of the violations subject to the consumers’ complaints.
He added that LMWD will also be sending to LWUA its position paper of doing the supply itself because of Prime Water’s failure to comply the deliverables, besides unable to pay its suppliers. “For almost three months recently, Prime Water was unable to repair water pipe leaks outside of Tacloban and in seven towns,” he said.
Aside from inability to repair leaks, Prime Water also failed to comply with the agreement to raise pressure in the supply of water to consumers within the city, he further said.
Prime Water promised to raise water pressure at 10 psi to Tacloban, but until now the pressure remains at 2 psi only, causing many concessioners in the city with less or without water coming out their faucets, he explained.
Cornico clarified that the LMWD board decision has no political underpinnings, considering that Camille Villar, a senatorial candidate for the coming elections, is a member of the family that owns Prime Water.
LMWD’s decision was based on the increasing number of complaints, reaching the agency, against Prime Water, he said.
“These complaints had also reached Malacañan and LWUA, which in return urged LMWD to investigate and decide accordingly on what action to undertake,” Cornico told the media.
kay siempre hadtu pa itu nga damu an nareklamo, diri la naabut ha ira,” dugang ni Cornico.
LMWD has currently a total of 54,809 water concessioners in Tacloban City, and in the towns of Palo, Tanauan, Sta. Fe, Pastrana, Tabontabon, Dagami, and Tolosa. —-Miriam G. Desacada