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Iloilo City Council OKs franchise of new water service provider

By Perla Lena

December 11, 2018, 7:27 pm

<p>Atty. Plaridel Nava II explains to his colleagues the necessity to grant a 25-year non-exclusive franchise to the Primewater Infrastructure Corp during  regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday (December 11, 2018).<em>(Photo by Perla Lena)</em></p>

Atty. Plaridel Nava II explains to his colleagues the necessity to grant a 25-year non-exclusive franchise to the Primewater Infrastructure Corp during  regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday (December 11, 2018).(Photo by Perla Lena)

ILOILO CITY -- Cognizant of this city’s water issues, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) during Tuesday’s regular session granted a non-exclusive franchise to another investor with interest to operate in Iloilo City.

With eight councilors expressing support, five abstentions and one objection, the 25-year non-exclusive franchise was granted to Primewater Infrastructure Corporation (Primewater) to construct, establish, commission, and maintain a water supply system to service the population of Iloilo City.

Councilor Plaridel C. Nava II, in a follow-up interview, said the ball is now in the hands of the city mayor on whether or not to sign or veto the ordinance.

“We are talking about water. I don’t think anyone will argue that they are enjoying much water in Iloilo,” he said when asked about its impact to city residents.

The franchise that was granted will cover the same area that is being covered by the existing Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).

In a separate interview, Atty. Roy Villa, legal counsel of the MIWD, said they will be filing a case for the said move of the SP.

“We are still thinking of where to file the cases but definitely we will be filing. This time, it will include the Balibago case. We will now proceed with the criminal and administrative charges,” he said.

He opined that for criminal charges, it would be the usurpation of authority because the local government unit has no power to grant franchise.

For the administrative case, it would be the abuse of authority, grave misconduct and other charges that may have been committed by the elected officials.

Just last week MIWD and the Metro Pacific Water (MPW) signed a PHP12.35 billion 25-year joint venture project to rehabilitate, expand and improve the water distribution system and wastewater management facilities of the water utility.

Meanwhile, the city government also granted a franchise to Balibago Water Resources Inc. to operate in Jaro district.

Under the franchise granted to the Primewater, the investor will have to pay the city government PHP1 per cubic meter of water sold and paid for in the franchise area subject to appropriate increases proportional to tariff adjustments.

The phase I of the project that covers the first to third year will serve 25 barangays of La Paz district; 16 in Mandurriao; 17 in City Proper and nine in Lapuz.

The remaining years will cover the 113 unserved barangays of Iloilo City. (PNA)

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