Waterless BF Homes: Is relief in sight?

Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. is quoted as asking Maynilad Water Services Inc. to set lower water rates for BF Homes Parañaque residents, who will soon enjoy water dripping from their household faucets after being waterless for many years.

According to him, the city government, homeowners, subdivision developers, and Maynilad representatives have yet to agree on the rates.

“P49 (per cubic meter) would be acceptable,” Bernabe told The STAR, hoping that Maynilad and subdivision developer BF Homes Inc. will consider the amount as the most reasonable rate.

He said he hopes to lower the developer’s proposed price of P51 per cubic meter by P2 so as not to make it too expensive for residents.

The mayor did not disclose that the price he said would be acceptable to BF Homeowners [at P49/m3] is almost twice the cost [at P25/m3] as that of his village Tahanan. See cost analysis table.

Cost per 500 gals (1.89 cu.m.)	BFW	Delivery	Tahanan
Volume (cu.m.)	1.89	1.89	1.89
Cost per cubic meter	55.00	84.66	25
Total cost (per 500 gals.)	103.95	160.00	47.25
Rate proposed by PWCC
Monthly consumption (cu.m.)	28.35	28.35	28.35
Cost per cubic meter	55.00	84.66	25.00
Total monthly cost	1,559.25	2,400.00	708.75
Price difference	220%	339%	Base
Reduced Rate proposed by PWCC
Monthly consumption (cu.m.)	28.35	28.35	28.35
Cost per cubic meter	51.00	84.66	25.00
Total monthly cost	1,445.85	2,400.00	708.75
Price difference	204%	339%	Base
Rate proposed by the mayor
Monthly consumption (cu.m.)	28.35	28.35	28.35
Cost per cubic meter	49.00	84.66	25.00
Total monthly cost	1,389.15	2,400.00	708.75
Price difference	196%	339%	Base

How soon water will be brought into BF Homes will depend on the agreement by the BF homeowners to the rate proposed by BF Waterworks (BFW). The waterworks insist that it cannot lower the proposed rate considering the high system loss due to leakage. The 40-year old water system, dormant for the last 20 years or thereabouts, will leak like a sieve upon activation. Consequently, the lower rate similar to those of other neighboring subdivisions like Tahanan is simply not viable.

MWSS threatens to “takeover” the water system under PD 1345 upon failure to interconnet. But “takeover” does not mean outright confiscation. The government cannot takeover private property without the constitutional due process. This means that MWSS may and is empowered to initiate the legal acquisition of the water system at a just compensation to be determined by a competent court. This is due process and the longer option.

Not surprisingly, BF homeowners are being conditioned for the “equal sufferance” supply of water (rationing) at a cost less than that of deepwell water delivered by enterprising water haulers. This a political option being proposed by our mayor who is up for another term. Either that or we are in for a long haul.

The mayor said that “P49 (per cubic meter) would be acceptable” to BF homeowners. Assuming that the proposal is acceptable to BF Waterworks, we ask: Is the rate acceptable to you?

If we don’t stand up for our rights and speak out in order to save face and avoid confrontation, we will end up exactly where we don’t want to be but where we deserve.

In the meantime, we thank the water haulers for the water in our tap, not the politicians who are already campaigning this early with posters littering our streets for the 2010 election.