ANGELES CITY – Water crisis or not, Angelenos are up in arms against PrimeWater, the Villar-owned utility company that took over the operations of the Angeles City Water District (ACWD).
During the hearing of the committee on public utilities at the sangguniang panlungsod here on Tuesday, officials from practically every barangay in the city took turns enumerating their woes over the water crisis they are experiencing in their respective areas.
One barangay official said they have no water daily from 9 p.m. up to 5 a.m. while others said the water pressure is very low and the water rusty.
“Mas malakas pa ang ihi ko,” lamented one. “Marumi ang tubig,” complained another.
Pressed by committee chair councilor Alfie Bonidacio, PrimeWater head of operations for Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales Engr. Aeschilus Aldana denied any water crisis obtaining in this city and assured the body of adequate water supply.
He said the problem is in the distribution system which required engineering intervention.
Councilor Jesus “Jay” Sangil, chair of the committee on public works and vice chair of the public utilities committee, said the water crisis seems to have gone out of hand because prior to the takeover of Prim Water, there were only two barangays – Margot and Sapang Bato – that were severely affected by the water crisis. But now, it seems that almost all barangays are affected, he noted.
Committee on laws chair councilor Arvin “Pogs” Suller put on record that the city council has yet to see a copy of the joint venture agreement contract between the ACWD and PrimeWater.
Suller asked PrimeWater branch manager Jonah Amechazura for the identities of the signatories of the JVA, saying that “they should have done due diligence.”
Amechazura mentioned the past ACWD board of directors was chaired by Bernie Cruz as privy to the JVA.
