MAYBE we should start celebrating that the first bulk water project in Bacolod City between the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI) is nearing completion. Well, at least according to a BBWI press release.
The way things stand, it has been months since our household has been deprived of water. Like last Sunday and Monday.
Last Sunday, our faucets went dry at 7 a.m. Water flowed at 11 p.m. The following day, Monday, we experienced water loss at 6 a.m. Whew, an hour early than usual.
Monday, I went to Baciwa to complain. It was the same tiring reasons. Brownout, Baciwa’s favorite whipping boy – Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco).
Come to think of it, why is Ceneco always conducting “maintenance” activities that translate to power outages? There was an outage last September 3 in Alijis. Two weeks on August 20, the same excuse, er, reason for the power interruptions. A week early, August 13, we experienced power loss.
Not to mention the intermittent 20 minute brownouts that go unannounced. Tell me again the reason why Bacolod won the Top Philippine Model City award as the most livable urban centers in the country?
According to the The Manila Times award, Bacolod has bested Mandaluyong which also has its share of water interruptions. One big difference.
Manila Water’s last service interruption was on August 30-31, 2017 between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following day, according to the water utility’s Facebook page. It advised its consumers to be “Maging laging updated, Kasangga!”
But going back to Baciwa and BBWI, the bulk water contractor assured consumers of continuous water despite power outages and moderate storms.
Project engineer Joey Pastorel said that since the recent release of the building permit, they have been on their toes, working overtime to ensure that the bulk water project will be completed on its October 2017 target date of delivery for the P1.1 billion project.
We also want to be on our toes. Unfortunately, we cannot exact accountability when the target date is unclear.
I talked to Baciwa’s Engineer Arthur John Ramírez last Monday. It might be my imagination but Ramírez didn’t exude confidence that BBWI can deliver on its promises by October 2017. Let’ see.
In the meantime, we as consumers have to grimace and bear the water scarcity.
(bqsanc@yahoo.com)
