Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is calling an emergency meeting this week to hasten a solution to the worsening water shortage in Bacolod City and mounting complaints from residents.
To be called to the meeting are Bacolod City Water District- Primewater, bulk water suppliers and national government agency representatives, Benitez said Sunday, January 14.
Engineer John Arlan Canatoy of BACIWA-Prime Water admitted the lack of water supply to Benitez on his Isugid Mo Kay Mayor Program aired on FMR Bacolod 91.1 on Sunday.
Bacolod City currently has 75 MLD (million liters per day) of water, and is short 20 MLD, Canatoy said.
But Benitez said the BACIWA estimate is way too low as it only includes consumers connected to its system now and does not anticipate future growth of the city.
He said an additional 50 MLD a day is probably what is needed.
The mayor also took BACIWA-Primewater to task for charging consumers a minimum rate for inadequate and sometimes dirty water supply.
The complaints against BACIWA’s services have been mounting, he said.
Benitez also questioned the capacity of BACIWA-Primewater pipes to distribute an increased capacity of water in the future.
Canatoy admitted to the mayor that delivery of water supply in some areas of Bacolod was scheduled and in some there was zero to four hour supply a day.
He said their problem has intensified because the bulk water from their suppliers in the north and south of the city has dropped.
While BACIWA-Primewater has entered into agreements for bulk water supply from other suppliers it will take several years before actual delivery, the mayor was also told.
Benitez said he will also meet with the mayors of Bago, Murcia and Talisay where Bacolod can tap its water needs.*