March 29, 2000

A LAWYER has lambasted the proposed P30-peso water rate increase to be carried out by the Davao City Water District (DCWD) saying it is very untimely.

Atty. Ramon Batacan of the Ateneo de Davao University’s College of Law, in a letter addressed to the Times’ editor, said raising the water rate “offers a wrong solution as it comes at a time when people are already burdened by the economic crisis.”

Taking into consideration DCWD acting general manager Alfonso Laid’s statement that the planned increase by May is due to the district’s need to improve finances, Batacan, who also serves as moderator of Green Juris, suggested that the better solution is to impose water production assessment against commercial and industrial users and not simply pass the burden to ordinary consumers.

He further cited the provisions of Presidential Decree 198 which lay down the mechanics by which the DCWD can generate funds for its expansion programs.

“All it has to do is to comply with the following requisites provided under Section 39 thereof, namely: a) there should be notice and hearing; b) the water abstraction be either for commercial or industrial - not domestic use; c) it must be shown that the abstraction is injuring or reducing the district’s financial position and d) the amount of the assessment should not be more than the loss,” Batacan pointed out.