Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito has filed a proposed ordinance requiring Bacolod Water District (Baciwa)-PrimeWater to install standby generators at all their pumping stations to ensure that residents have continuous water supply, even during power outages.
The measure, titled the “Permanent Power Generators on Pumping Stations Ordinance of Bacolod City,” was recently approved on first reading by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.
“Every time there’s a power outage, thousands of families, hospitals, schools, and businesses suffer because there’s no water. With this ordinance, we want to put an end to this recurring problem,” Distrito said.
Under the proposed ordinance, Baciwa-PrimeWater will be required to equip all their pumping stations with standby generators that automatically activate during power outages to guarantee continuous water distribution.
Baciwa-PrimeWater would have 60 days from the ordinance’s effectivity to begin installation, with full compliance expected within six months.
The City Mayor, through the Bacolod City Water Monitoring Committee, will be tasked with overseeing and ensuring compliance. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a penalty of ₱5,000 per day of non-compliance. The matter may also be referred to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for possible regulatory sanctions.
Distrito explained that the ordinance is based on the right of every person to have safe and adequate water, which he described as a “basic human right.”
“This ordinance is pro-people. It will ensure that Bacolodnons will no longer be deprived of water whenever electricity fails. It protects our health, sanitation, and daily living,” he added.*