TASK FORCE "TOO-BIG"

Cagayan de Oro City

MANIFESTO

WE, THE CONSUMERS OF WATER PROVIDED BY THE CAGAYAN DE ORO WATER DISTRICT (COWD) , HEREBY PROTEST THE IMPROPRIETY OF THE COWD PROPOSED 30% INCREASE FOR PAYMENT OF WATER CONSUMPTION. TO GATHER OUR COLLECTIVE CONCERNS AND OBJECTION TO THE WATER RATE HIKE, WE HAVE ORGANIZED OURSELVES INTO A TASK FORCE DUBBED “TASK FORCE TOO- BIG ". IT IS A MULTI-SECTORIAL GROUP COMPOSED OF THE BISHOP- BUSINESSMEN'S CONFERENCE- CAGAYAN DE ORO CHAPTER, CATHOLIC SOCIAL ACTIONS IN ARCHDIOCESE PARISHES,CAGAYAN DE ORO COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, KONSUMENTING KAGAY-ANON, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS OF THIS CITY.

OUR MAIN OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSAL HINGES ON: WHY PASS ON THE CONSUMERS THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF COWD'S OPERATIONS WHEN ITS EXISTING REVENUE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE COSTS IF PROPERLY MANAGED?
THE COMMISSION ON AUDIT (COA) AUDIT REPORTS ON COWD'S FINANCIAL OPERATIONS (2005-2009) SHOWED EXPENSES "WITHOUT LEGAL BASES" AMOUNTING TO PHP 411.52 MILLION FOR THE 5-YEAR PERIOD. ALSO, UNBILLED WATER (OR SYSTEMS LOSS THROUGH LEAKAGES,ETC) HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY RISING AND HAS REACHED 53.1% IN 2009, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO MILLIONS OF PESOS OF LOSS. THIS IS OUR CONTENTION: UNLESS THESE FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR, CORRECTED NOT REPEATED, THEN THE PROPOSED 30% INCREASE BECOMES UNJUSTIFIABLE, UNREASONABLE, UNACCEPTABLE AND UNTENABLE.

WE, THE CONSUMERS WHO DESIRE, HOPE FOR AND SUPPORT AN EFFICIENT PUBLIC SERVICE IN WATER SUPPLY, SEEK OTHER SOLUTIONS TO EXISTING PROBLEMS OF COWD THAT WILL ADDRESS ISSUES ON GOOD GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE TO HELP COWD ASSUME ITS MISSION OF SERVING THE PUBLIC.