The Dumaguete City Water District has offered the City government of Dumaguete a choice to either buy the share of the Water District for P15 million, or for the City to sell to the DCWD its share of P15 million.
The proposal was made as an attempt to resolve once and for all certain issues bugging the operation of the Dumaguete Septage Facility situated in barangay Camanjac, said DCWD General Manager Esperatu Dicen.
The DCWD Board reiterated in a resolution passed recently their firm and vehement objection to the reduction of the septage user’s fee from P2.00 to P1.50 — the amount of which was determined nine years ago — because it would endanger the sustainability of the project.
The Board said that despite the DCWD’s opposition to the City Council’s proposed amendment, it proceeded with the public hearing to reduce the septage user’s fee.
The inaccurate information being spread in print, broadcast, and social media about the issue is demoralizing the District’s handling of the septage business affairs, despite the awards and recognition of the septage facility as a Galing Pook awardee, the Board said in its resolution.
In addition to the media strategy of discrediting the District, and on top of the basic financial reports submitted, other reports are demanded every now and then by the Council, apparently used for micro-assessment, notwithstanding the fact that the process cannot be undertaken by them.
The Board added that this is well demonstrated in the City Council’s request for an accounting of the 20 percent reserves which total P7,575,913.78.
Some P3,016,360 of that amount was advanced to the City government for various improvements of the facility from 2010 to 2012, and which remains unliquidated to date.
With all the verbal tussle and exchange of fiery words especially between members of the City Council and the DCWD General Manager, the DCWD said it believes there is a breakdown of trust and confidence between both partners, and that the remedy is to go back to the provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement which is to buy out the share of any part at an agreed amount as provided for in Paragraph 17 of the MOA, through a mass motion signed by all four BOD members present.
For his part, Councilor Manny Arbon, principal author of the proposed reduction of the septage user fee, said he was saddened by the decision of the DCWD Board in saying as professionals and mature people, “We shouldn’t be going to that extent.”
Arbon said he understands the predicament of a buy-out especially on the side of the City when it comes to the operation of the septage facility, and that the City government is seriously making a study on the proposition.
He disclosed that unsigned documents of the disbursements of the 20 percent reserve fund was only submitted to the City government on Feb. 20, showing where the money was deposited, without the complete details. It was signed by finance officer, Mark Villanueva.
Members of the City Septage Management Administration also claimed they saw the documents for the first time after nine years of operation.
Members of the Committee on Environment headed by Councilor Arbon, the Finance Committee headed by Councilor Lilani Ramon, and the Public Utilities & Franchises Committee headed by Councilor Alan Gel Cordova said they are in a quandary as to where to raise their queries when DCWD refused to attend the committee hearing scheduled Wednesday. (JFP/JG)
