Loctob Water Inc. (LWI), a company by Richli Water, has filed a case against the local government unit (LGU) of Loboc to stop inspections on its water treatment plant (WTP) project, citing delays and potential losses.
The move comes after a scheduled meeting between LWI and the LGU failed to materialize, with LWI’s legal counsel Marvin Aceron refusing to meet with Loboc Mayor Raymond Jala and other officials in private.
Aceron said the P800 million project has been delayed and that each inspection would incur more delays.
He offered a compromise to let LWI finish the project without delays by December 20, 2024, and then allow the LGU and other officials to inspect as much as they want.
The dispute began when Mayor Jala requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to inspect the site due to allegations of quarry operations taking place in the area.
LWI refused to allow inspections, citing the need for a court order.
Aceron claimed that LWI should have been informed about the complaints as part of due process, but the firm had not received any verified complaints.
Mayor Jala said he received a letter complaining of alleged quarry activities at the site and wanted to discuss the issue with LWI to find a solution.
Despite the dispute, Mayor Jala reiterated his support for the project, saying he had never issued a stoppage order and that the water project was welcome in the town, where several barangays are not served by the local waterworks.
The case has been filed with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Loay, and LWI is seeking to stop the inspections and complete the project without further delays.