Cagayan de Oro City found itself in a state of emergency following the abrupt halt of water supply by Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. (COBI), affecting approximately 800,000 residents in the city.
In response to this dire situation, Mayor Uy issued Executive Order 196-2024 on May 1, declaring a state of emergency in the city. This move activated the Incident Management Team (IMT), tasked with ensuring the continuous provision of water to the city’s inhabitants.
The decision to cut off the water supply came after negotiations between COBI, Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD), and representatives from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) hit a deadlock last Monday, April 29. Andrew Pangilinan, the President of COBI, cited the non-payment of a purported P426 million water bill by COWD as the reason for the supply cut-off. However, COWD disputed this claim and refused to settle the alleged debt.
The situation escalated when COBI proceeded to disconnect its bulk water supply shortly after midnight on Monday. Mayor Uy intervened by deploying Task Force Oro, an integrated unit comprising law enforcement personnel from the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP), to safeguard the bulk water pipes serving approximately 170,000 water subscribers in the city.
As the city struggles with the water supply crisis and faces the complexities of contractual agreements and jurisdictional issues, the concerted efforts of local authorities and stakeholders are crucial in safeguarding the welfare of Cagayan de Oro’s residents amidst the challenging ordeal.
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