RIO Verde Water Consortium Inc. broke its promise again as it failed to meet its self-imposed deadline to finish the repair of its damaged main steel pipe yesterday. Its latest excuse: bad weather.
This means, the water crisis would continue to grip some areas in the western part of the city up to Opol town in Misamis Oriental for at least another week.
Engr. Bienvenido Batar Jr., Cagayan de Oro Water District assistant manager, said the Rio Verde repairs were not completed yesterday, and that the Jose Alvarez-owned firm has sent the water district an advisory “that this is extended by one week.”
Batar said Rio Verde informed the COWD that “the delay was caused by heavy rains affecting their earthworks intended for the repair.”
Bad weather and rampaging waters in September were blamed for the Rio Verde pipe damage in its initial notice to COWD. But before a city council committee, Rio Verde senior vice president Joffrey Hapitan claimed that the damage was caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks in late September.
Hapitan had assured the city council’s public utilities committee that the repairs would be completed this Monday. Subsequently, Rio Verde had moved the deadline to Wednesday (yesterday), allegedly because a bulldozer being used in the repair bogged down.
Ladelle Sagrado, COWD spokesperson, said areas still badly affected by the crisis are Lumbia and elevated parts of Patag, Bulua, Iponan, and Opol town in Misamis Oriental.
Sagrado said Lumbia has no water supply from COWD while some areas in Patag, Bulua and Iponan have no water supply during peak hours. Some areas in Opol town have either lost their water supply from COWD or are having low water pressure problems.
Sagrado said Rio Verde sent COWD a notice via text message to inform that its supply of bulk water through its spare and much smaller pipe would continue for another week “because their river diversion earthworks for the underwater pipe crossing Cagayan River has been affected by heavy rain.”
She said Rio Verde claimed that a huge portion of the filling material and earthworks were damaged by rampaging waters.
Sagrado said, “This means completion of their repair and resumption of normal water supply to the west service area is expected on Oct. 24, 2017.”
She said the COWD would continue to facilitate the delivery of treated water to the badly affected areas until Rio Verde finishes the repair of its main pipe. (herbie gomez)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
