DAVAO City residents – and we mean water consumers – brace yourself. No, not from any calamity but perhaps to the majority, even more “calamitous.”
Yes, the Davao City Water District (DCWD) is seeking another increase in its water rates. We do not know how much. But we are certain as to the truth of the planned rate hike.
Actually, we learned about this impending increase from a city councilor who happened to drop by our house yesterday shortly after noon. We talked about what the City Council is busying itself with and what the body’s take is on the reported disposing of wastewater from a piggery farm not far from the Tamugan River.
The councilor begged for our indulgence as there was a need to be back in the city’s downtown because of a scheduled hearing on the DCWD’s plan to increase its water rate.
Our hope is that the city’s Legislative body will make sure that when it gives a go-signal to the rate hike, the amount will not have a major impact on the lives of common families.
By the way, was it not only a year or two ago that the last tranche of the DCWD’s previous increase was implemented?
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Residents along the Tamugan-Panigan Rivers are advised by the authorities to temporarily refrain from using water from the two bodies of fresh water. The reason is that a nearby swine farm disposed of its wastewater in the river last October 20.
Well, there is no need to describe what the wastewater from a piggery is like to caution the people who normally use water from the rivers concerned.
Upon learning of this incident, we contacted the water agency supplying the city’s needs, suggesting that perhaps it would be good for the firm to issue a statement as to whether its bulk water supply is not affected by the wastewater disposed of in the two rivers.
The other option that we suggested to her is to communicate with the bulk water supplier company and request that it issue the statement relative to the issue.
Say, it is the only way to assuage the fear of the water consumers, especially those supplied with water from the bulk water facility, that there is nothing to fear as to its possible contamination.
Yes, there is need to advise the people the exact location where in the river was the waste water disposed.
It is our take that asking for such a statement from either of the water firms is too much of a request.
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Now it is just a matter of signature by Acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, and the Clamping Ordinance on illegally-parked motor vehicles will be in effect.
Last Tuesday, in its regular session, the local lawmaking body approved the measure on third and final reading. The ordinance’s author is young lady councilor Luna Acosta.
We know that the Ordinance is quite late compared to that of its Cebu City version. But as we wrote here earlier, it is better late than never. Besides, it was not until some three to five years ago that vehicular traffic had become a major problem in Davao City.
When businesses were back to usual and even further improved after the COVID-19 pandemic that the city’s downtown roads became very constricted as parking spaces became smaller and smaller, and shorter as well.
Thus, where businesses are operating, the roadside fronting these businesses becomes prone to illegal parking. Now, the City Council wants to address this problem by imposing a measure that may instill discipline among motorists or vehicle owners.
We can only hope it will, and the same ordinance will not end up becoming a tool for making money by some scheming traffic law enforcers.
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The Sandiganbayan Third Division has acquitted then Senator and now Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, and his Chief of Staff Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, from 15 counts of graft charges over the multi-million peso PDAF scam.
Reyes, upon learning of her acquittal, was captured in camera looking very emotional. Enrile, though, while getting acquitted, has long been enjoying the life of a free man. In fact, he is back at the pedestal of power being the President’s legal counsel.
The reason for the acquittal by the Sandiganbayan’s third division is insufficiency of evidence. Reason to celebrate indeed. But wait, another accused with Enrile and Reyes in the same 15-count graft case is businesswoman Janet Napoles.
How come that she was convicted of similar graft cases with some of the other players in the PDAF scandal?
What an ambiguity in this Sandiganbayan decision if the conviction of Napoles in her other similar cases is to be reckoned with.
