Pestaño to lead water rate hike opposition
ROXAS CITY – Medardo Pestaño, former general manager of Metro Roxas Water District, said he will lead water concessionaires in opposing the water rate increase scheduled next year.
Pestaño said he will organize a symposium on August 10, 9 a.m., at West Lake Subdivision’s club house in Dayao.
The main objective is to solicit alternatives on how to prevent the impending water rate increase in 2011, he said.
The symposium will start with the review of the background of the almost P1-billion MRWD expansion project, followed by the presentation of MRWD on the current situation of the water district.
An open forum will be held to discuss means on how to stop the water rate increase.
In 2005, MRWD was taken over by the Local Water Utilities Administration then headed by Larry Jamora following a conflict between Pestaño and the board of directors.
The LWUA takeover had two objectives namely: to complete the expansion projects at that time to sustain the steady supply of treated water to residents and businesses in Roxas City and the municipalities of Panay, Panitan and Ivisan and; to ensure the water district’s financial viability through LWUA’s management and technical expertise.*
