ANGELES CITY – “Go public. Explain yourselves to the people!”
Thus, said maverick city councilors Jesus “Jay” Sangil and Alfie Bonifacio in calling out the top executives of the Angeles City Water District (ACWD) to face the people in a public forum.
This developed as the two councilors denied interfering with the operations of the water district. “The entire ACWD officials (sic), especially the workers, know that we are not interfering, much more to their operations,” Sangil said.
“We know our limitations. We know the autonomy given to water districts. We know PD 198,” added Sangil. “What we are raising are legitimate issues like the water crisis in barangays Margot, Sapangbato, Northville, Cutud, Cuayan and Cutcut among others that involve water consumers, our constituents.”
There was also the ultra violet ray machine disinfection controversy where the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) later recommended were unnecessary, Sangil recalled.
Bonifacio, chair of the city council’s committee on public utilities, said he already conducted a committee hearing on ACWD’s bulk water contract where he discovered that AM Gatbonton was operating without a business permit among others.
The two councilors urged the water district officials to be transparent and explain to the water consumers their planned joint venture contract.
“Show proof and evidences that your joint venture contract plan with a private water firm will be good for our people in the long run. Show the terms of reference (TOR) to the public if it will be advantageous to the government and to our people,” they said.
“Ayaw po nating maging katulad ng nangyari sa Maynilad at Manila Water na binanatan sila ni President Duterte and even threatening to send them to jail.”
However, Bonifacio also expressed his appreciation to the ACWD officials for conducting a press conference.
“We thank the ACWD for issuing statements through a press conference that clarified their joint venture plans but we, the people, are more than appreciative if they answered the legitimate issues hurled against them,” Bonifacio said.
“Every Juan dela Cruz has the right to information. The public, more so with concerned government agencies to erase any doubts of wrongdoings and irregularities,” he added.
But Sangil said, “in the light of all these, it’s the ACWD officials that are abusing their authority and autonomy. That is why a graft and corruption case was filed by Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. against them.”
“Nagsasalita kami at hindi nakikialam sa kanilang operations and management. We are merely informing our people on what is going on. Because we see smoke coming from the ACWD that is why we are doing this,” he clarified.
“We are not interfering. We are merely asking you (ACWD execs) to be transparent by showing to the public your joint venture move through a public hearing. We deserve to be informed. Nothing more nothing less,” the two councilors chorused.
