PHILSTAR

FLO WATER Resources Inc., one of the bulk water suppliers of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) that delivers 15,000 cubic meters daily, has temporarily cut off supply since June 5 amid a dispute over fines relating to water quality. Flo Water stopped the supply to MIWD to protest the P1.5-million fine imposed by the latter for allegedly violating water quality parameters in their bulk water supply agreement. “The disconnection was based on our penalty… after they delivered discolored water from April 7-16, 2019. They wrote us a letter protesting the penalty but we cannot do otherwise because it was embodied in the contract that the color is part of the quality,” said Amarylis Josephine C. Castro, MIWD officer-in-charge general manager. In a letter to MIWD dated June 3, Flo Water President Rogelio C. Florete Jr. said the water district should pay the P1.5 million, not the other way around, and set a June 4 deadline, “otherwise, we will resort to all actions necessary to protect and/or vindicate our rights.” The discolored water is being blamed on the molasses spill incident in a sugar central in San Enrique, Iloilo that contaminated the Jalaur River, Flo Water’s main source of raw water. MIWD officials, in a press conference last week, said the supply cut would mean low water pressure in the areas covering Barangay Tabuc Suba in Jaro, Iloilo City to Leganes, Iloilo. “The most affected areas will be from Tabuc Suba going to Leganes but in some areas like La Paz, Pavia, and even in Iloilo City, we are still validating the data. The most affected areas do not necessarily mean that there is no water supply but just low water pressure,” said Jerry P. Guillergan, officer-in-charge of MIWD’s Engineering Department. Ms. Castro also assured the public that the situation is “under control” and that they will be resorting to water rescheduling to balance the supply delivery. MIWD legal counsel Roy P. Villa, meanwhile, said they are now looking at several legal remedies following the disconnection. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

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