Achas frowns on ‘no objection resolution’ for Rio Verde anew

MINORITY Floor Leader Councilor Rustico Achas cautioned the 20th City Council on making yet another ‘dangerous move’ to approve the no objection resolution, givin Rio Verde Water Consortium, Incorporated the greenlight to provide level III water services to Cagayan de Oro and deleting a specific provision in the City Council Resolution No.14895-2024.

The new proposed resolution 2024-209 seeks to scrap the provision, “That the said corporation will only charge its customers ₱15.00 per cu.m. for the first three years of its operations and may increase the same to not more than ₱16.00 per cu.m. on the fourth year up to the fifteenth year of its operations.”

This move, according to the City Legal Office, would be necessary, since the power to prescribe, regulate, and approve water prices rests with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and not the city council.

In his manifestation, Councilor Achas argues that approving the amendatory resolution should be based on public want and emergency.

‘A law can only be enforceable when there is danger and not if there is danger,’ he explained in English and vernacular, adding that he sees no risk and emergency in the city’s water supply.

Achas would rather want to give attention to Cagayan de Oro Water District’s (COWD) plan to settle its ₱426 million financial obligations with COBI, stating that the former’s negligence to pay caused the latter’s constant threat to irrevocably halt water services.

In closing, Councilor Achas prods the city’s legislature not to amend the first resolution to protect the best interest of the Kagay-anons.