Last week I wrote that it is logical and extremely important that government (national and local) should control and manage water supply for our people. This time I am citing statistics showing that privatization of water supply increases the cost of water for people, mostly due to the profit motive of private firms. I am also recommending that Dumaguete City officials should control and manage the fresh water resources of the city.
Privatization in some US states has led to an increase in water bills from 18 to 95%. Please see http://overpasslightbrigade.org/privatized-water-all-about-the-profit/.
Privately-run utilities charge an average 59% higher water bills than publicly run utilities, with an average increase of 18% every other year. Please see https://www.foodandand waterwatch.org/insight/water-privatization-facts-and-figures.
There are 10 other top reasons to oppose privatization of water supply. Please see https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/Top 10 PDF.pdf
I hope our Dumaguete City officials are guided by trends in water costing in other countries of the world.
In this regard, I fully agree with President Digong Duterte that government should take over the control of the freshwater resources of Dumaguete City.
It is clear that that our water supply comes from our mountain peak, Cuernos de Negros. This mountain is more than 6,000 feet above sea level. Its forest is the Tropical Rain Forest and is the main source of the water supply of Dumaguete City and the towns of Valencia and Sibulan. We have to ensure that this forest is conserved to provide adequate water for generations of our people.
I am recommending at this time that Cuernos de Negros be designated a watershed. The government officials of Dumaguete and Sibulan should petition the DENR to convert this mountain peak to a watershed to ensure that its forest and the associated biodiversity are protected from all forms of destruction. It may be mentioned that Silliman University research has been focused on Cuernos de Negros since the days of Dr. James W. Chapman, Chairman of the Biology Department.
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