Cagayan de Oro Water District general manager Rachel Beja hammers home a point during a news conference on the city’s water supply security while his assistant managers, engineers Bienvenido Batar Jr. (left) and Boy Linaac (right) listen. The COWD stands smack dab in the middle of a public relations firestorm over its dealings with two bulk water suppliers. (photo by nitz arancon)
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By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

URBAN poor organizations in the city have started closing ranks to oppose the implementation of the joint venture agreement between the Cagayan de Oro Water District and the Manny V. Pangilinan-controlled Metro Pacific Water Investments Corp. next year.

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This was confirmed yesterday by leaders of two public transportation groups who revealed plans to stage separate street demonstrations against privatization moves.

Ringo Lago, secretary general of the Solidarity of Transport in Region 10-Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide, said his group has started meeting with other urban poor groups, including Kadamay.

Urban poor leader Francisco Pagayaman was among those who attended the meeting on Tuesday, Lago said.

He said Starex-Piston agreed to join other organizations in staging demonstrations outside the COWD office on Corrales Ave.

Lago said members of the city’s public transportation sector were also concerned about the city’s water supply security and its future in view of COWD’s joint venture agreement with Metro Pacific.

Another public transportation group, the National Confederation of Transport Union in northern Mindanao, said it was also planning to stage separate street demonstrations outside COWD.

NCTU president for the region, Joel Gabatan, said his group is aiming to stop the COWD-Metro Pacific agreement from being implemented.

“If the cost of water goes up, we, drivers, would be affected, too. We are also water consumers,” Gabatan said.

He said NCTU would launch a mass action separate from Starex-Piston’s.

“We won’t stage the rally simultaneously. It’s either we do it before or after their rally,” Gabatan. said.

He said he has been informed that a major labor organization, Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, was also unhappy with the COWD-Metro Pacific joint venture agreement and could join groups opposed to the deal.

Meanwhile, Lago said his group has yet to decide on the dates of the street demonstrations they were planning.

In separate interviews, Lago and Gabatan said they would be closely coordinating with Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr..

Lao, chairman of the city council’s public utilities committee, said the controversial COWD-Metro Pacific agreement would result in substantial increases in local water rates sooner or later.

Lao said the COWD-Metro Pacific agreement would be in effect for 30 years beginning in January 2018. He said it was a move towards COWD privatization.

“Supak kami sa privatization sa COWD kay sa oras nga ma-privatize na ang water district, lakip kami nga apiktado. Kinsa may magbo-ot unya sa Metropac kon mopa-increase sila sa ilang water rate,” Lago said.

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