CEO lifts suspension on MIWD's excavation works
Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) can now continue with their excavations and diggings relative to the water district's P207 million rehabilitation program.
MIWD Project Engineer Jerry Guillergan said the order for a temporary stoppage on the issuance of excavation permit was lifted by the City Engineers Office (CEO) Wednesday.
Guillergan said they work until night time just to satisfy the order of the city's chief executive regarding the restoration of all areas affected by MIWD's excavation project. There were personnel from the engineer's office who accompany the MIWD personnel during the restoration process.
Admittedly, Guillergan said, the restoration works of the water district slowed down in the past weeks after they met an "internal problem" with one of the five project contractors. He identified the contractor as Patrila Builders.
He said, they have to take over the project because of the problem that ensued between the water district and the contractor. He said the contractor asked for some claims that are not stipulated in the contract.
He believes that the areas left unrestored by the contractor of the rehabilitation project caught the ire of Mayor Jerry Treñas who ordered for the temporary stoppage of the issuance of excavation permits.
Guillergan explained that there are two types of excavation permit that governs their work. One is the excavation permit relative to the implementation of the P207 million rehabilitation project which covers the main streets of the city.
The rehabilitation project includes the replacement of old water pipes to new ones. The same project also includes the drilling of eight additional wells to improve the city's water supply.
The other type of excavation permit is the permit issued to all applicants of the MIWD for the installation of water service lines. Prior to the issuance of said permit, the applicant is obliged to pay for any damage caused by the waterline installation.
Guillergan stressed that it is the CEO that has the responsibility to restore the excavations resulting from water service installation. He, said the consumer pays for whatever damage it will cost.
The MIWD contractors only help in the restoration works to avoid further inconvenience to the people and same time safeguard the pipe lines from heavy weights such as vehicles.
The order affected applicants for water service connections. He could not ascertain the decrease in the number of applicants at the time the order was implemented. Nevertheless, the water district is doing its best to address the problem, said Guillergan.