Rama eyes legal moves vs MCWD

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama directed the city legal team to look into possible actions against officials of Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).

This after Rama expressed disappointment over the cutting of asphalt road covering three barangays in the north district caused by a water pipe-laying project.

“I am unhappy with MCWD. They cannot just cut the asphalt for their development project. Sakit kaayo. The pain creates penetration to my skin and my heart,” Rama told reporters yesterday.

Rama stressed that he realized about this when he visited someone in the area last week, saying he was disheartened that the government project was touched “without courtesy.”

“They (MCWD officials) did it publicly. I’m not going to talk to them privately. I will also do it in public like this,” Rama added.

The MCWD management defended its project, saying it has long been awaited by residents of barangays Talamban, Bacayan and Pit-os.

MCWD Public Affairs Department chief Charmaine Rodriguez apologized to the public but stressed that while they understand the discomfort of motorists taking the road, they must also heed the requests to serve the “three waterless barangays”

“People from there have been asking MCWD for decades to expand in the area. They are presently buying water at a rate that is more than double than what MCWD consumers are paying. In MCWD’s desire to serve the public, it is doing its best to hasten the completion of the project and to cause the least inconvenience to the public as possible. We are appealing for everyone’s understanding,” Rodriguez told The FREEMAN.

Initially launched on April 2012, the P54 million expansion project started on October 15.

It is 3,219 meters long with 300-mm diameter ductile iron pipes connected to a main line at the corner near Talamban Sports Complex.

On January 13, 2013, the City Council, through a resolution, called the attention of MCWD and ordered the restoration of the road.

“Our contractor, New Culion, has agreed to do the council’s order of asphalting. We started on March 2 but we had to stop due to unavailability of asphalt from contractor’s supplier. It resumed on March 20, 21, and 25. So far, we have asphalted about 495 meters from an international school in Pit-os to Bacayan,” Rodriguez explained. — /LPM (FREEMAN)