City in ‘state of calamity’, says Treñas
The shortage in potable water remains a very serious problem in Iloilo City, which is why City Mayor Jerry Treñas want the city declared under a state of calamity.
Treñas noted the letter sent to him by the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) informing him about their limited capability in addressing the problem on water shortage.
The mayor said he already endorsed the letter to the city council for immediate action and solution.
“We have to think of other alternative solution on the problem. The MIWD admitted it can only provide potable water supply to some 20 percent of the population. What about the needs of the 80 percent population, who will answer for it?” Treñas stressed.
The city mayor also said there is an urgent need to amend a 15-year old law, Regulation Ordinance 94-012 passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in March 2, 1994 by amending Sec. 3 of Ordinance 93-114 which provides “regulating the operation and construction of deep and shallow wells for commercial purposes” in any area in the city of Iloilo.
Treñas said the city council must understand that the situation in 1994 is not similar anymore in 2010 and there is a need for more realistic, practical and humane approaches to solve the water shortage problem.
Among these approaches is the shallow and deep wells of private persons selling and delivering water to the city in places such as hospitals, schools, shopping malls, commercial business districts and residential areas not served with pipe-in water from the MIWD, Treñas said.
Last week, a bulk water seller in Brgy. Hibao-an Norte, Mandurriao was issued a Notice of Violation after it was found to have no pertinent locational clearance and business permits.
Bulk water seller Arnold Bilbao was reported to be selling water at P200 per cubic meter and extracted water in his four deepwells in his lot at an average of 120 cubic meter per day and sold these to several city hospitals and shopping malls.