(Councilors Jay Sangil and Alfie Bonifacio discuss the former’s resolution urging the mayor to terminate the ACWD BOD. Photo by Ashley Manabat)
ANGELES CITY – A resolution seeking to replace the entire board of directors (BOD) of a public utility company here was filed at the sangguniang panlungsod (SP) during its regular session on Tuesday.
Councilor Jesus “Jay” Sangil filed SP Resolution No. 243-10-19 urging Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” G. Lazatin, Jr. to terminate the BOD of the Angeles City Water District (ACWD).
Councilor Alfie Bonifacio joined Sangil in urging the mayor to replace the entire BOD citing various irregularities and the failure to solve the water crisis in several barangays of the city.
Sangil and Bonifacio are council committee chairs on public works and engineering and public utilities, respectively.
It was learned that the entire board was appointed by the previous administration. Appointees have a six-year term but the terms of two or three of the directors will be expiring next year.
Earlier, the city council bared alleged irregularities that prompted the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct an audit in the ACWD’s bulk water contract with some private companies.
The COA also looked into the utility company’s alleged overpricing of more than P300-million ultra violet ray machines, questionable construction of a septage plant amounting to more than P100 million, and alleged overpricing of P20-million water trucks, among others.
Sangil and Bonifacio also cited ACWDs negligence in addressing the water problem in Barangays Cuayan concessionaires have been complaining on the lack of water in their tap for prolonged periods.
“Kailangan pang maghintay ng hatinggabi bago tumulo ang tubig na mahina pa,” according to a barangay kagawad.
The city councilors said water service interruptions last for days in some areas.
In Northville Cutud, at least 40,000 residents were affected by water shortage, foul odor and dirty water for almost 10 years until the intervention of the city council to resolve the problem in January of this year.
To remove the ACWD board, the councilors cited amended PD 198 that gives the appointing authority the power to appoint and at the same time the power to remove or discipline erring members.
According to Sangil, the water crisis in barangays Margot and Sapangbato lasted for more or less a year before the ACWD addressed the problem after the city council stepped in to help at least 20,000 residents in the two villages.
He said concessionaires of Barangays Cutcut and other nearby areas have also been complaining of the same water problem.
“It seems that the ACWD board and management are used to take action slowly or just negligent in the performance of their duties,” Sangil noted.
Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts to call the ACWD, it has not replied or answered telephone calls to its hotline number 045 322 6926.
