The mayor of Dauis was in the middle of a shower when the water supply from the Bohol Water Utilities Inc. (BWUI) halted.
Mayor Marietta Sumaylo is just one among throngs of Dauisanons who are inconvenienced by the seemingly recalcitrant water service being provided by BWUI.
What is painful and inconvenient about the latest situation is the fact that the notice was given to consumers after the cancellation of the supply was done.
“Nahinajak mi ug kaligo, panglaba, pangbuhat buhat apan wala namo damha nga taliwala niining tanan, mapawong diay ang tubig dili lang sa usa ka oras, duha ka oras pero lima (5) ka adlaw,” said on of the Dauis consumers.
BWUI is the company that was created as a result of the joint venture between the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) and the Salcon Consortium. PGBh owns 30% of the joint venture and Salcon owns the majority stake of 70%.
The BWUI is created to provide safe and potable water to its customers.
However, last week (and even until now) was/is a disaster for the residents of Dauis as the BWUI gave short notice to residents that the water service will be interrupted.
It was such a short notice as residents were virtually caught off guard and unable to prepare for the water service interruption.
This begs the question: Is BWUI making life miserable for Dauisanons?
Sumaylo went on air on Thursday, Apr, 15, 2021 to air her discontent over the poor service of BWUI.
She said, time and again, that she has been asking about the reason for the poor water service from BWUI but got only lip service to the promise.
The mayor went on to warn BWUI to shape up as the patience of Dauisanons is getting thinner.
Last week, April 14, 2020, BWUI’s water service was already interrupted before sending out notices, via text message, to consumers. This is inconvenient to the consumers who are not able to prepare for the water service interruption.
Parts of Dauis lost their water connection after BWUI issued a water service interruption on April 14, 2021, that on the said date the water service is interrupted from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. of April 19, 2021, based on a Facebook post.
The reason given for the water interruption was: BWUI needs to conduct an emergency repair in pumping unit no. 1 located at barangay Tanday, Corella, based on information released by the company in its Facebook page on April 14, 2021.
This situation leads us to another question: Does BWUI have any compassion towards the consumers?
As a reaction, Sumaylo said that what BWUI did to consumers is really frustrating.
“Kinapaitan jud ang ilang [BWUI] gihimo tungod kalit-kalit mura ba nga ingon sila mawa ang tubig mawa, diha-diha,” Sumaylo lamented.
The mayor said the company could have given ample lead time to give the notice to consumers so that the latter can prepare by storing water or to prepare for contingencies.
The mayor said that currently BWUI has an exclusive contract with Dauis local government unit (LGU) for a bulk water supply to the local waterworks until 2025.
Sumaylo said that her hands are tied because of the pact and could not rescind the contract due to poor performance of the water firm.
“Sorry BWUI, kapila na ta nagsabot unta. Natagbaw na pud mi. Sana improve ang inyong services,” the mayor pleaded.
Sumaylo noted that BWUI’s maintenance of facilities is not enough.
“Kita man gud kun magnegosyo ta ready ta sa mga ingon ana nga time [water service interruption], ato pang pahilakon ang mga tawo ug maglisod,” the mayor quipped.
She suggested that BWUI should have back-up plans, facilities, and equipment to store water that can be used by consumers in case of emergency.
To ease the water woes, Sumaylo said she allowed other companies to provide water services directly to private Dauis residents such as Richli Water and Balibago.