TAKE A STAND AGAINST WATER PRIVATIZATION!

Baguio City has long been caught in a ‘felt water crisis’. Majority of the service areas of BWD grapple with insufficient volume of water reaching their households while some barangays rely on private water delivery firms for sanitation and survival. Thus, a public opinion towards declaring a crisis took shape.

In this context, BWD embarked on a bidding for the Bulk Water Supply Project (bulk water). After a thorough study, the Procurement Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) declared on July 2004 that the only remaining bidder for the project, Benguet Corporation (BC), failed due to technical and legal issues.

However, on the first week of November, the BWD Board reversed its decision and unanimously decided in favor of BC. Their decision gave way to the submission of BC’s Envelope C a week after.

With these recent developments, we from the PRO-CONSUMERS and Tongtongan Ti Umili-Cordillera Peoples Alliance, reiterate our concerns and our position regarding the bulk project and the bid of Benguet Corporation.

WE deem that there is no need for the Bulk Water Supply Project at this time. If we compute the Philippine Standard per capita consumption per day, we will be surprised to discover that the actual production of BWD is enough for its current service area. Also, a monthly average of billed consumption falls within 500-600 thousand cubic meters while BWD can actually produce more than a million cubic meters per month. As for weekend population and peak season for tourists, BWD may need additional supply but not as big as the 50,000 cubic meters from the bulk project.

Can the BWD Board please clarify on the basis of the 50,000 cubic meters and why push for the bulk water when the most immediate problem is the full rehabilitation and expansion of the BWD’s distribution system?

WE believe that the bulk project means water privatization. Benguet Corporation has privatized water sources for its many projects. Currently, it holds a total of 58 water permits in Itogon, Tuba and even in 3 areas of Baguio; the Irisan/Iliw River, VOA Spring 1 and VOA Spring 2. Allowing BC to monopolize our water sources violates our rights as consumers for equitable access to this precious resource.

In more than a decade of implementing privatization schemes, Filipino consumers are feeling the brunt of unending increases of fees and charges (i.e. electricity, oil products, education, health and other sectors). If we privatize the water sources of Baguio, we will definitely feel its parallel impacts. The bid price of BC is estimated to be P 40 per cubic meter, which can still increase after five years. With the questionable record of Benguet Corporation, the consumers would always be at the losing end of this deal. Therefore, we pose that a vital resource like water must remain in the control of the people through the BWD.

WE stand with the PBAC study regarding the quality of water that BC intends to supply to Baguio. PBAC stated that the “results of water testing from samples taken from the main water source offered by Benguet Corporation showed the presence of undesirable metallic chemical elements such as lead, cadmium and manganese beyond the permissible level which are harmful to human. While these contaminants are treatable, it would be too risky to simply rely on the treatment process which must be efficient and monitored at all times to keep the lead, cadmium and manganese within the permissible level. Further, test results of samples taken from the water impounded at the open pit (which is proposed as the reservoir for the project) disclosed the presence of highly toxic metallic chemical element known as mercury.”
Even at the brink of desperation towards the resolution of this problem, we cannot accept contaminated water. Lead may cause kidney damage, brain damage and even death; Cadmium is associated with kidney diseases and genetic mutation, Manganese may cause nervous system disorder and Mercury may affect the central nervous system. It is atrocious for BC to violate our right to clean, safe and potable water and it is alarming if Baguio people would allow BC to provide toxic water to the city.

WE question the process of the re-opening of the bidding. PBAC members unanimously resolved that “Benguet Corporation has not fully satisfied the requirements of the BWD based on the parameters stated in the Terms of Reference. Thus, BC failed under Envelope B”. We want to know what had transpired after the PBAC made their decision. What was contained in the technical report of LWUA (Local Water Utilities Administration) who made their study in accordance to the prayer of BC? What are the bases of the BWD Board in reversing the decision of the PBAC? Unless these questions are satisfactorily answered, people will be inclined to believe that there has been corruption and manipulation.

WE stand united with the struggle of affected Itogon communities who are currently facing depletion of water sources. After siphoning the precious metals of Itogon people, BC now wants their water. Those communities and small-scale miners near the Antamok open-pit are also threatened with dislocation from their land and livelihood. BC’s exploitation of their resources is a clear violation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and must be condemned.

WE believe that with these pressing concerns, the Baguio City Council should now intervene. In accordance with the Local Government Code, the City Council must ensure the efficient and effective delivery of basic services and facilities. We urge our honorable city councilors to act on this matter and to take a position against water privatization. We appeal to the City Council to call for a suspension of the bidding and review the basis for the bulk project.

We call for the Metro-Baguio consumers to support our struggle.

Oppose the BWD-BC deal!
No to Bulk Water Project!
No to contaminated water!
No to water privatization!
Water for the people!

PRO-CONSUMERS Metro-Baguio (Promotion of Consumers’ Survival and Economic Rights)
Tongtongan Ti Umili-Cordillera Peoples Alliance