WATER SUPPLY. The water truck of PrimeWater and its joint venture partner Bacolod City Water District delivers water to residents of one of the areas in the city in this photo released on March 9, 2024. Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday (March 11, 2024) the city government is taking steps to address the shortage in water supply. (Photo from Baciwa-PrimeWater Bacolod City's Facebook page)
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has formed a coordinating action team mainly to expedite the implementation of vital infrastructure to improve water supply for Bacolodnons.
In Executive Order 014, series of 2024, Benitez said the body, which he chairs, will come up with a coordinated action and approach plan as well as build effective collaboration between and among agencies in both the public and private sectors.
“The city government is taking steps to address the shortage in water supply,” he said in a press conference on Monday.
Benitez noted “as much as 15 percent” reduction in the level of the city's water sources, based on the report of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa)-PrimeWater.
He said reports of water shortages and interruptions aggravated by the El Niño weather phenomenon have affected the daily lives of residents.
Benitez said one of the recognized causes of water shortage is the difficulty of acquiring ownership or road right of way in areas where the pipes pass through to supply water to the city.
“Acquiring road right of way for infrastructure projects is essential for the development and improvement of road networks in our city. There is a need to expedite the process of acquiring road right of way,” he added.
Benitez said the coordinating action team will also develop and implement short-term and long-term strategies to address water shortages and ensure the provision of adequate water supply to all residents.
They will also make recommendations and endorsements to the appropriate office and/or agency of any activity, plan or project to be pursued as part of the coordinated effort to improve the city’s water supply, he added.
Since the last week of February, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has been rationing water to several sub-villages and schools in Barangay Mandalagan with limited water supply.
In a statement over the weekend, PrimeWater, together with its joint venture partner Baciwa, said it has acquired a water truck for deployment as a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of the El Niño on the current water supply.
The water truck, which can store up to three cubic meters of water, is being used to deliver water during service disruptions across multiple barangays, it added. (PNA)
