Firms should provide water from stub outs

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak wants to penalize water utilities that refuse to provide water from their stub outs during fire and emergencies.

In a proposed ordinance entitled “The Stub Out water access Ordinance of the city of Cebu,” Tumulak said lack of sources of water is a common problem encountered by firefighters during emergencies.

A stub out is a water outlet from the mainline of a water connection that does not pass through a meter of a concessionaire.

“It is a common observation that residents in the barangays always have a hard time fighting and suppressing fire when one occurs due to, among other reasons, lack of sources of water to which they could connect their hoses,” the proposed ordinance reads.

Under the proposal, Tumulak wants the barangay officials to take charge in protecting the stub out from “unlawful activities.”

“The barangay chairman shall have the duty to protect the stub-outs from theft and destruction. Failure or negligence in carrying out such duty on the concerned barangay official shall subject him or her to administrative liability,” the proposed ordinance reads.

Unlawful activities may include “opening the said stub out/s without the authority from the barangay chairman where the same is/are located; and using of free water from the stub out/s for purposes other than suppressing fires or for use during emergencies.”

It is proposed that violators will be fined at least P1,000 or even jailed upon the discretion of the court. 

The proposed penalty will punish any person commits the unlawful activities to pay not less than P1, 000 or an imprisonment of five days or both, depending on the discretion of the court.

Section 4 of the proposed ordinance states that “every water utility firm providing water service and operating in a barangay where stub outs are maintained shall provide free access from the said stub outs in case of fire emergency.”  (FREEMAN)