Councilors Jay Sangil and Alfie Bonifacio (foreground) listen intently to the discussions during the city council’s regular session last Tuesday. Contributed Photo
ANGELES CITY – The city council now wants the Angeles City Water District (ACWD) to show the public its financial state following reports of its privatization move.
Councilor Jesus “Jay” Sangil has urged the ACWD to show its financial records so that they can be examined before any privatization move can be made.
Councilors Sangil and Alfie Bonifacio, chairpersons of the committees on public works and engineering and public utilities, respectively, said earlier two water trucks purchased by the ACWD have been allegedly “overpriced’” by P15 million.
The councilors alleged that the two trucks were approved by the ACWD board and purchased by the management at p10 million each from the Subic Bay auction sale.
However, it was discovered that the original price of the same units amounted to only P2.5 million each for a total of P5 million.
Sangil said records gathered from the ACWD showed that P20 million was released for the two trucks.
Sangil recently authored SP Resolution No. 222-10-19urging the city water district to submit their financial report to the public through the Sangguniang Panlungsod which was unanimously approved. But No financial report was submitted by the ACWD for almost a month now after the request.
A few weeks ago, Sangil and Bonifacio bared the privatization and/or joint venture move of the water district with a big water firm.
The councilors said the big water firm was reportedly permitted to conduct feasibility study and allowed data meter logging activity in its several pumping stations which is a “highly questionable and illegal” process.
“Ayaw naming isipin ng ating mga kababayan na maliwanag na parang favored na ang private water company kanya binibigyan ng kodigo in preparation for bidding process,” said councilors Sangil and Bonifacio.
The two councilors said they “have to protect and safeguard our constituents since they are the consumers of the ACWD.”
“Kanya po natin ipinapaalam sa ating mga kapwa Angeleños ang mga ginawa at gustong gawin pa ng pamunuan ng water district na inaakala nating hindi makakabuti sa mamamayan,” the two councilors added.
“That is why we also requested COA and LWUA to conduct an audit because of alleged wrongdoings of ACWD. “Kung wala naman dapat itago hindi sila dapat mangamba,” they said.
