ANGELES CITY – The expose made by city councilors Jesus “Jay” Sangil and Alfie Bonifacio on the alleged overpricing of ultra violet (UV) ray machine acquisition of the Angeles City Water District (ACWD) uncovered a much bigger anomaly.
“Unnecessary,” was how the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) described the ACWD’s purchase of ultra violet (UV) ray machines which had cost about P30 million and installed in various pumping stations for its water supply treatment.
But upon thorough investigation, Sangil said the LWUA discovered that the ACWD outsourced its water treatment services for the next 25 years and is locked down in another contract which could cost the district more than P800 million.
Sangil said, “as per LWUA, they (ACWD) will pay more than P800 million, aside from the direct purchase they made amounting to more or less P30 million. For the next 25 years, the ACWD is locked in a contract with Texin.”
Some of the documents obtained by Punto! showed that ACWD contracted Texin Inc., represented by Allan E. Avenido, VP sales and operations, for the supply, delivery and commissioning of Ultra Violet Hydro Optic Disinfection for ACWD’s central pumping station for P29,940,326.
Another showed two units were contracted by ACWD and Texin president Glenn P. Flores. Sangil said data gathered showed ACWD’s average water production at 1.6 million cubic meters per month while the average consumption is 1.2 million cubic meters more or less.
Sangil said the ACWD has accepted a bid by the supplier for the supply of goods and services in the sum of P3.50 per cubic meter per month as the contract price.
The LWUA recommended “chlorination as the main disinfectant” and suggested to “cease operation of all UV disinfection facilities to avoid unnecessary expenses on water supply disinfection and maintenance as UV is not the ideal disinfection for the present set up.”
Sangil said the outsourcing of ACWD’s water treatment services is irregular.
“We will file a council resolution and I will make a privilege speech on Tuesday (Jan. 28),” he added.
He said the resolution urging Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., to file the necessary criminal, civil, and administrative charges and cases against the ACWD general manager, chairman and members of the board, chairperson and members of the bids and awards committee, the engineering officers and laboratory officers of the ACWD for various anomalies involved in the procurement and installation of UV ray machines, will be jointly sponsored by Bonifacio.
