ANGELES CITY—A resolution urging the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to look into the alleged overpricing of “ultra violet (UV) ray machines” by a public utility company have been filed in the city council here.
City Councilors Jesus “Jay” Sangil and Alfie Bonifacio filed the resolution during the sangguniang panlungsod (SP) regular session on Tuesday.
The UV ray machines are reportedly being acquired and installed in several pumping stations of the Angeles City Water District (ACWD).
The two aldermen said they received reliable information that the ACWD has purchased 36 UV ray machines at P8 million per set/ unit totaling P288 million already.
The purchasing of UV ray machines is still ongoing, according to the two councilors, and these are to be installed in about 60 pumping stations of the ACWD.
Sangil and Bonifacio, chairpersons of the committees on public works/engineering and public utilities, also said the COA and the LWUA should take a closer look into other transactions of the ACWD with private contractors following reports of abuses and irregularities.
“Marami po tayong nare received na information na iregularidad na ginagawa ng ilang opisyales ng ACWD (We are getting a lot of information on irregularities that are allegedly being perpetrated by ACWD officials),” the councilors said.
Sources at the ACWD told the councilors that not all pumping stations are needing UV ray machines. The sources also said a UV ray machine is needed only in selected areas where the water is contaminated and not potable.
Sagil said prices of UV ray machines range only from P2 million to P3.5 million as per other private water companies and a water district in nearby Pampanga town.