Metro Pacific Water unit Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water, Inc. (COBI) said it is seeking immediate resolution with the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) over the latter’s unsettled accounts.
鈥淓fforts to reach an amicable solution with Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) over outstanding payments and water pricing have been impeded by a lack of COWD representation,鈥 the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
It said that a meeting took place on April 30 with COWD, which included representatives from LWUA, Metro Pacific Water, Congressman’s office, and COBI.
鈥淗owever, only one COWD director was present, thereby not reaching a quorum to provide a needed resolution, which is the outstanding balance of COWD to COBI,鈥 the company said.
鈥淭his absence of representation from COWD raises concerns about their commitment to resolving the issue and compromising water supply for their consumers,鈥 it added.
The company noted that LWUA has already intervened to mediate and prevent service disruptions, particularly during the El Ni帽o season.
鈥淭hey requested a 30-day extension to facilitate discussions between Metro Pacific Water and COWD. Unfortunately, despite multiple negotiation meetings, an agreement could not be reached,鈥 it said.
鈥淎t this point, we are still open for an immediate and swift resolution of unsettled accounts.聽 We encourage COWD to work with us to ensure a secure water supply for all Cagayanons,鈥 the company added.
Metro Pacific Water聽is a wholly owned water infrastructure investment subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).
MPIC is one of the three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific, the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority share in聽大象传媒 through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.聽鈥 ALB
