Some City Councilors have this sari-sari store mentality they thought having additional water utility in Davao City is a brilliant idea.
The last time the City Council authorized Helpmate Inc. a water utility from Cebu, to operate in Davao City, particularly on District 2, it simply died a natural death by bankruptsy. Digging test wells cost millions of money and no one from the Council believed that if there are aquifers that yield some water the quality cannot pass standard. Helpmate Incorporated failed to find a viable source of underground water anywhere in the District it attempted to tap water under the silted Davao River which is the most polluted source anyone can imagine. They manage to have few connections including a dedicated line to SM Mega Mall. But SMX Management wanted that water from Helpmate be stored in the same reservoir of DCWD which is already supplying water to the super mall. DCWD Board opposed the idea on account safety and health issues and offered to withdraw its supply contract and allow Helpmate to be SMX exclusive supplier. The mall management moreover opted to keep DCWD instead.
In retrospect was that the silly in the idea of another water utility in District 2 was decided by both the City Council and the City planning and Development office despite knowing that DCWD has embarked on undertaking a Bulk Water Project that would tap the top water of Tamugan and Panigan rivers. The project was then estimated to cost ₱12.5-billion. It was and still is the biggest single investment in Mindanao by the joint venture of DCWD and Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. Included in the BWP plan was to expand the network of pipelines and water reservoirs all the way to Bunawan barangay.
We thought that the present City Council has learned a lesson from the past. It is alarming that someone with that idea would think that putting up another water utility is just like putting up one or ten more sari sari store in a street corner. DCWD has been offering differed payment of water connection for water consumers in the 2nd District because there is now so much water to share.
Can any brilliant Councilor propose instead the replacement of the City’s jurrasic traffic light signalization system?
