MCWD, Mactan Rock in last minute negotiations

CEBU - In a last ditch effort to avert a possible water supply problem in Lapu-Lapu City and the town of Cordova, representatives of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District and Mactan Rock Industries, Inc. are scheduled to meet today.

Lito Maderazo, spokesperson of Mactan Rock said he is hoping that they can come up with a solution as their ten-year contract to supply water in the two areas with MCWD expires today.

Mactan Rock supplies 5,000 cubic meters daily to Lapu-Lapu City, including the Mactan Export Processing Zone, hotels and resorts as well as the entire town of Cordova.

MCWD assistant general manager Ernie Delco said that as of yesterday, there was no extension of Mactan Rock’s supply contract.

MCWD has however assured that they have already put in place some measures to lessen the impact.

“MCWD assures the public nga okay ra ang water supply,” Delco said.

MCWD director Joel Mari Yu said that they will still have a discussion with the management of the Mactan Rock today.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy and Lapu-Lapu City Vice Mayor Mario Amores have however said that they believe MCWD’s assurance.

 The officials of Mactan Rock and MCWD have been negotiating for the past several years about the latter’s contract extension, but both parties could not agree on the stipulations for the renewal.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is alarmed by the news on the looming water problem in Mactan Island, saying MCWD should find immediate an solution.

CCCI vice president for external affairs Clarito Fruelda said that MCWD and Mactan Rock should talk among themselves, and find a win-win solution as the non-renewal of contract would not only affect the booming Mactan economy, but also it would put some people at risk, referring to the employees of the various firms.

For his part, PhilExport-Cebu president Jay Y. Yuvallos, whose furniture manufacturing company is based in Mactan, also expressed his apprehension saying that although his company is not into water-intensive production, it is a shame that Mactan will suffer the lack of a basic need like water.

Yuvallos added that businesses should not be made as victims of whatever misunderstanding between two companies.

“It is a shame that that we have to worry about water, it’s a very basic need. Businesses should not suffer from this,” Yuvallos said.

Mactan Rock offered to renew their contract for another ten years under the same terms and conditions to help the company meet its mandate to supply water needs in the said areas.

However, the MCWD board of directors offered only a one-year extension for Mactan Rock.

Mactan Rock chairman Antonio Tompar however said that they cannot agree on such arrangement offered by MCWD. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon with Ehda M. Dagooc/NLQ   (THE FREEMAN)