By CESAR JOLITO III
With the onset of the hot and dry season, the Bacolod City council warned of a possible recurrence of widespread water supply disruptions in the city, citing unresolved operational and financial issues involving the current water concessionaire.
Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr. raised concerns that city residents could once again face reduced or total water supply interruptions, pointing to reported non-payment of past dues and loan obligations by PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. to its suppliers.
He stressed that these issues mirror problems previously blamed for water service instability in the city.
Amid these concerns, Gamboa renewed his call for the restoration of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) to full government and consumer control, asserting its mandate as a government-owned and controlled corporation.
He said continued private operations had failed to ensure reliable, accessible and safe water for residents.
The councilor questioned the effectiveness of the Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. system, noting that a significant portion of Bacolod’s households either have no access to pipelines or are connected to aging, deteriorating and leaking water lines.
According to Gamboa, these infrastructure issues undermine the purpose of bulk water supply investments.
He disclosed that the current non-revenue water (NRW) rate stands at approximately 43 percent, meaning nearly half of treated water is lost before reaching consumers.
Under the joint venture agreement (JVA) between Baciwa and PrimeWater, the agreed NRW level should be reduced to 20 percent.
He emphasized that the high NRW rate effectively forces consumers to pay for water that is never delivered to their homes.
In addition, Gamboa cited around 900 reported leaks in the distribution system that remain unresolved, warning that such leaks not only waste water but also expose pipelines to contamination, posing risks to public health.
The councilor also questioned the status of the reported sale agreement between PrimeWater and the Lucio Co Group, saying it remains unconsummated despite being publicly declared.
He claimed the premature announcement of a sale was used to prevent Baciwa from temporarily retaking control of operations, despite what he described as repeated violations of the JVA and continued service deficiencies.
Gamboa further alleged that PrimeWater continues to collect revenues without making corresponding structural investments to improve services.
He cited estimates placing PrimeWater’s monthly collections at around P60 million, or roughly P720 million annually, with an average net income of P100 million, raising questions about how these funds are being utilized.
He also underscored the need to protect Baciwa’s infrastructure assets, valued at an estimated P750 million, which were turned over to PrimeWater under the JVA.
“These assets belong to the people of Bacolod and must be protected,” Gamboa said.
As chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Human Rights, Gamboa reiterated that immediate action is needed to safeguard water access, public health and consumer welfare.
He warned that failure to address the situation could further endanger the city’s water security and the long-term viability of the water district./CJ, WDJ