Davao City Water District warns its customers against water meter theft including those committed by individuals posing as DCWD employees to gain access to their water meters.
DCWD urges its customers to remain vigilant and help protect their water meters from unauthorized access and theft. By verifying the identity of persons performing work on their water meters and promptly reporting suspicious activities, customers can help prevent incidents of water meter theft and protect water quality and safety.
Before allowing anyone to perform work on or around their water meters, DCWD advises customers to verify whether the individual is an authorized DCWD personnel through their official DCWD uniform and valid DCWD-issued identification card and maintenance order number that can be confirmed with DCWD.
DCWD encourages the public to immediately report any suspicious individuals or unauthorized or unscrupulous activities involving water meters through DCWDโs 24/7 call center hotline at 235-3293, text support (0927-798-8966, 0925-511-3293, or 0908-441-0653), and chat support in the DCWD website www.davao-water.gov.ph) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/officialDCWD).
The importance of customer vigilance in preventing water meter theft was demonstrated in two separate incidents in which perpetrators were apprehended and subsequently prosecuted for the unauthorized removal or possession of DCWD water meters.
In the first incident, a perpetrator was caught in the act of removing a DCWD water meter at Juna Subdivision on February 21, 2024. The customer was alerted when their water supply was suddenly cut off despite no reported service interruption and immediately checked the water meter, where they found the perpetrator removing it.
The perpetrator initially posed as a DCWD employee and claimed that he was repairing the water meter.
When asked to present proper identification to verify his identity as a DCWD employee, he failed to do so. The customer immediately reported the incident to the police, resulting in the perpetrator being brought into custody at the Ecoland Police Station for investigation.
The perpetrator pleaded guilty to the cases filed against him. He was sentenced to six months of imprisonment for violation of Section 8, Paragraph (G) of RA No. 8041 or the National Water Crisis Act of 1995 for the unauthorized removal of a DCWD water meter, and six months and one day for Usurpation of Authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code for misrepresenting himself as a DCWD employee to justify the removal of the water meter. The sentence took into consideration his preventive detention. He was also ordered to pay a fine of PhP6,000, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency.
In another case, a perpetrator was caught in possession of two DCWD water meters on May 1, 2024. The perpetrator was brought to the Talomo Police Station and was subsequently charged with violation of Section 8, Paragraph (G) of RA No. 8041 and Theft under Article 309 paragraph 5 of the Revised Penal Code.
The perpetrator pleaded guilty to both charges and was sentenced to six months to one year of imprisonment and a fine of PhP6,000 for violation of Section 8, Paragraph (G) of RA No. 8041 and two months of imprisonment for theft.
DCWD also advises the public that buying stolen DCWD water meters and their appurtenances is a violation of Presidential Decree 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Law. Junk shop owners, operators, or individuals found guilty of Fencing for buying stolen meters shall face the penalty of Arresto Mayor in its medium period.
In one case, a junk shop owner was found in possession of a stolen DCWD water meter on February 2, 2013, during a follow-up operation. The water meter had been taken by another individual and was later recovered at the junk shop of the accused. The junk shop owner was subsequently charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Law for buying and possessing the stolen DCWD water meter.
The court found the junk shop owner guilty beyond reasonable doubt of fencing and sentenced the perpetrator to suffer imprisonment of straight four years of prison correctional.
As DCWD continues to implement measures to curb water meter theft, the utility reiterates its reminder to customers to protect their water meters in accordance with the DCWD New Service Connection Contract. (๐๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ข ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ ๐. ๐๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ป๐ข)
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