Tapilon waterworks re-open

CEBU, Philippines - The Tapilon Rural Waterworks and Sanitation Inc. (TARWASA), which Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot earlier ordered closed, has resumed operations but this time, the barangay has taken over.

Tapilon Barangay Captain Arturo Conejos told The FREEMAN that residents were thankful that they have water supply in time for the fiesta celebration of the St. Michael Archangel Parish last Saturday and Sunday.

Loot ordered the barangay to take over the operation and management of TARWASA last May 3 until the court resolves the pending case.

Conejos said that one sitio in the barangay which held its fiesta last May 2 was forced to fetch water at the abandoned wells for washing while others bought bottled distilled waters for drinking.

The water source, which was padlocked, is now guarded by police and civilian volunteers.

Loot ordered the closure of the waterworks system on April 19, 2011 but it took effect on April 25. She cited its failure to secure the necessary permits from the municipal government.

Loot claimed that the water system lacks the certificate of franchise from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the government agency tasked to supervise the operation of rural waterworks and sanitation associations. She said it also failed to secure franchise from the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).

According to Loot, the absence and lack of these mandatory requirements are clear grounds for its closure.

Close to 1,000 families in Barangay Tapilon were affected by the closure of their waterworks system.

Officials of the TARWASA have filed a petition for mandatory injunction before the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City against Loot after she issued a cease and desist order against the water utility.

Claro Benatiro, chairman of the barangay waterworks system, asked the court to direct Loot and the municipal officials to allow the waterworks system to continue its operation and return its control to them.

Benatiro likewise asked the court to direct Loot and other municipal officials of Daanbantayan to comply with the December 4, 2009-order from the court to unlock the building where the replacement motor pump and other repair gadgets of the waterworks system are kept.

TARWASA officials claimed the waterworks is a duly LWUA-registered association since 1992 and is exempted from the imposition of local requirements such as municipal licenses, permits and taxes as provided for under Executive Order 577, an Act Creating Rural Waterworks Development Corporation of 1980. —/JPM (FREEMAN)