WATER RATION. Members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department of Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday (May 15, 2024) distribute water supply from fire trucks to affected residents of the water supply shutdown. The city government filed a temporary restraining order in court to prevent the bulk water supplier, a private firm, from cutting off its water lines. (Photo courtesy of CDO CDRRMD)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The city government has obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a local private bulk water supplier to continue the normal water distribution here.
On Wednesday, a representative of the Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Incorporated (COBI) received the TRO issued by the Regional Trial Court of Misamis Oriental Branch 17.
The TRO was a special civil case for injunction filed by the city government through the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD) to prevent COBI's disconnection of bulk water supply.
Acting Executive Judge Ana Candida Casiño issued the TRO on Tuesday after household consumers experienced a temporary water shortage in most parts of the city.
Mayor Rolando Uy said the state of emergency he declared early this month will remain in effect until the crisis caused by the city's water supply disconnection is resolved.
In a statement, COBI confirmed that the main supply valves of the east and west pipelines supplying COWD's water distribution system were closed at past 10 am Tuesday.
The disconnection affected 40 percent of the city's households, mostly in its western parts, where water rationing is ongoing in the affected areas.
COBI claims that COWD owed them collectibles amounting to PHP479 million, a figure being disputed by the local water utility.
COWD general manager Antonio Young said he was informed of the disconnection at past noon Tuesday.
Included as parties in the TRO were Rio Verde Water Consortium Inc., which implemented the disconnection upon COBI's call, and COBI's majority shareholder, Metro Pacific Water Investments Corporation.
The water supply crisis came two days ahead of a scheduled visit by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the city. (PNA)
