Councilor Diosdado “Konsi” Mahipus Jr. on Tuesday said Davao City needs to open the market for other water service providers.
This developed amid the ongoing water supply problem the city’s provider Davao City Water District (DCWD) is experiencing.
“It is still the same, the city has been experiencing water interruptions for quite some time already, in fact, I think it’s already decades ago that my father raised this issue before the City Council in the need for DCWD to improve their systems. We cannot also quarrel with DCWD because we have no choice but to accept the fact that there are challenges on the ground that are being faced by the DCWD, and yes there is a need to open the operation of water supply in the city,” Mahipus said during the 11th regular session of the 20th City Council on Tuesday.
Mahipus mentioned Cebu-based water provider Helpmate Incorporated which expressed its interest in 2017 to supply water in Buhangin District, Davao City.
“I think that is the reason that previously we have allowed the operation of another water system supplier. We have approved the operation of Helpmate Incorporated previously to supply water in several parts of the city but not yet all because the franchise limited their operation to some parts of the city, which is Buhangin District. I was told that this company expressed their intention to expand their operation not to compete with DCWD but to complement the services of the DCWD through providing water in areas that DCWD will not supply water,” Mahipus said.
Based on reports, in 2015, Helpmate proposed to undertake a water project in Buhangin District by early 2016, but the DCWD asked the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to stop the implementation of Helpmate project, alleging that the company started construction without the necessary permits.
In 2017, the City Council passed the resolution urging the NWRB to approve the application of Helpmate to implement a water system in Davao City.
Mahipus asked Hydie R. Maspiñas, manager of the Water Quality Division of DCWD and who was present during the session if DCWD will not object if other water providers enter Davao City.
“May I know if the DCWD if that is the case and if other water distributors would like to operate in the city, are you going to object?” Mahipus said.
Maspiñas answered that they can make the assurance that the Davao City Bulk Water Project will be sufficient for the water requirement of Davao City once it starts operating.
“If the bulk water will be operational we can say that 24/7 all Dabawenyos will be given water. If the 300 million liters today which shall be given by Apo Agua, that can suffice the need of the city,” she said.
Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. is now taking the lead role in the construction of the bulk water project to fast-track its completion which will provide 300 million liters of safe water daily to over one million Dabawenyos. It targets project completion by the end of 2022.
“We are waiting for the operation of the bulk water project, which until now remains, I don’t know, when they will operate, this December, otherwise we will be forced again to wait for the extension that they will announce,” Mahipus said.
The City Council invited Apo Agua to the session of the City Council next week.
