Opening of Envelopes C1 and C2,
A Cover-up to the Controversies Surrounding the Bulk Water Project

Today, the re-composed PBAC (Procurement Bids and Awards Committee) for the bulk water project will open Envelopes C1 and C2 of Benguet Corporation’s (BC) bid for the project.

Envelope C1 must contain BC’s bid security/bond and its extension of credit line/statement of possible source of capitalization. Envelope C2 on the other hand, should have a notarized commitment of BC to deliver the water and the bid price per cubic meter.

These Envelopes are the last requirements of the bidding before the contract signing. After the signing, BC will be bound to supply the city with 50,000 cubic meters of water per day at around P40.00 /cubic meter.

BC’s water may not only come expensive, it may also be contaminated with lead, cadmium, manganese and mercury which are harmful to humans. In addition, the project entails the privatization of Baguio Water District (BWD) which is not capable of paying BC P60 M/month. Lastly, Itogon communities living near the proposed reservoir are facing displacements as BC depletes the indigenous water sources of its source communities.

In the light of the above, we reiterate in the strongest possible terms that the concerns raised by the old PBAC should be answered. The opening of the last envelopes with a new PBAC is an attempt to do away with the controversies surrounding Envelope B and the entire project. BWD’s refusal in resolving the old PBAC’s issues regarding the quality and quantity of Benguet Corporation’s sources of water is putting the Metro-Baguio consumers’ health and welfare in grave jeopardy.

BWD’s Board of Directors and top-management (in conspiracy with Benguet Corporation) are again exposing their grand plan to fast track the project.

Last Dec. 13, 2004, BWD and Benguet Corporation did not appear in the scheduled council investigation. BC stated in a letter that they will not appear in any investigation until the bidding is over. We were also informed that the BWD Board of Directors passed a resolution on the same date that they will not entertain media interviews on the bulk water project.

The news black-out and the hasty opening of Envelopes C1 and C2 underscore the shameless attempts of BWD to get through with the bidding in favor of its lone bidder. Again, we pose the possibility of corruption and manipulation happening among the BWD Board of Directors and its top-management for them to act in favor of Benguet Corporation.

In opposing this condemnable conspiracy, the Metro-Baguio consumers together with affected Itogon communities must unite for heightened vigilance.

In the face of BWD’s outright disregard of our legitimate opposition, the PRO-CONSUMERS and Tongtongan Ti Umili-Cordillera Peoples Alliance are determined to uphold the rights of Metro-Baguio consumers which are being trampled upon by the on-going bidding of the bulk water project.#

UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF METRO-BAGUIO CONSUMERS FOR SAFE AND AFFORDABLE WATER!
EXPOSE THE BWD-BC CONSPIRACY!
STOP THE BWD BULK WATER BIDDING!

PRO-CONSUMERS Metro-Baguio
Tongtongan Ti Umili-Cordillera Peoples Alliance