CAGAYAN DE ORO, PHILIPPINES – The local government has implemented contingency plans for water supply interruptions, with the Task Force Water Supply suggesting placing tanks at critical points throughout the city’s barangays.

The Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) and barangay authorities would work together to determine the drop-off locations, according to Nic Jabagat, Chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department.

“Barangay officials will distribute water on the ground, and we’ll provide them with water,” he said, adding that water tankers would be deployed to augment their water supply efforts.

“The Bureau of Fire Protection will coordinate with volunteers (in water distribution to households), while we will also coordinate with COWD to identify nearby water sources,” the Chief said.

The contingency was formed to serve households affected by the disconnection of water service by the city’s contracted bulk water supplier, Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water, Inc. (COBI).

COBI served a fourth disconnection notice to COWD late last month, stating that the water district owes them PHP426 million in collectibles.

COWD and COBI are locked in an ongoing water rate payment dispute.

COWD cites force majeure, or the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, as the basis for not settling the PHP426 million collectibles.

Mayor Rolando Uy recently created the task force to set up contingencies in case COBI disconnects its service to COWD, which COWD manager Antonio Young said would affect 40,000 households on the city’s eastern side.

Sources:(1),(2)

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