By CESAR JOLITO III
Fears of a possible water interruption in Bacolod City have been allayed after PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. committed to and completed the settlement of its outstanding obligations to Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI), prompting city officials to assure the public that water services will remain uninterrupted.
Mayor Greg Gasataya announced on Saturday, December 13, that following immediate coordination, PrimeWater confirmed it would settle its unpaid balance to BBWI by noon today.
With the settlement duly confirmed by BBWI, the city government assured residents that there would be no water interruption in the city.
The issue raised serious concern as around 40 percent of the water supply of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) – PrimeWater is sourced from BBWI’s facilities, particularly the Granada Water Treatment Facility in Barangay Granada, and the Sum-ag Water Treatment Plant in Murcia town’s Barangay Salvacion.
Gasataya lamented that despite the city’s earlier intervention to resolve a similar issue in July, another payment dispute arose under the watch of Baciwa, which holds the primary obligation under its joint venture agreement with PrimeWater to ensure uninterrupted water services.
“The city government remains firm and steadfast in protecting the welfare of our constituents. We will never allow public service to be compromised because of failures in contractual obligations,” the mayor said, emphasizing that the city will continue to act decisively to prevent any water crisis.
Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, likewise, reassured the public, stating unequivocally that there would be no disruption in water services.
He confirmed receiving assurances that PrimeWater has fully settled its obligations to bulk water suppliers, including BBWI, addressing the immediate cause of public concern.
Benitez said his office is in constant coordination with the city government, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Baciwa, BBWI, PrimeWater, and other stakeholders to ensure the issue does not recur.
He also urged Baciwa to exhaust all legal remedies available to protect public interest and ensure stable water services.
At the same time, the congressman called for prudence in issuing public statements, noting that while transparency is vital, communications that may cause unnecessary panic among residents should be avoided.
On Friday, December 12, Baciwa Board Chairperson Atty. Sonia Verdeflor issued an emergency notice warning of a possible water stoppage after PrimeWater allegedly failed to pay its bulk water suppliers since September, amounting to around P11 million.
The notice prompted residents to store water amid the possibility of service disruption.
In a public statement, BBWI confirmed that PrimeWater-Bacolod has already settled its outstanding balance amounting to P11 million as committed.
With the payment confirmed, BBWI assured the public that bulk water supply operations will continue normally, ensuring uninterrupted water service throughout the city./CJ, WDJ