In CamSur, taps remain dry despite floods, record rainfall

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FOR several days as tropical storm “Kristine” barreled through the Bicol region last week, residents of the municipality of Cabusao, Camarines Sur battled through a twin headache: flooded streets and no running water.

Records show the Cabusao Water District (Cawad) is now on its second year of operational shutdown with none of its 1,262 service connections getting even a drop of water from their faucet.

Before throwing in the towel and cutting water production for good two years ago, the water district was already losing over 60 percent of its water supply due to its rotting pipe distribution system that was left unattended until too late.

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Without the flow going through water meters, the Cawad’s income dropped to P1.36 million as of 2021 from P2.72 million in 2020.

From this shrinking income, officials and employees drew P521,835 in salaries and allowances while spending another P538,444 on fuel and lubricants, mostly for motor pumps that brought water to the surface, only to be lost in leaks and leaving only loose change for any maintenance work on the delivery system.

By the time Cawad’s pipes ran dry, its sales income had dropped to just P446,229 in 2022 and zero in 2023.

According to the 2024 audit of the water district, only general manager Nebrido Santiago Jr. and Board of Directors (BOD) member Annaliza Sugay remained in the agency’s personnel roster.

In 2019, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) approved Cawad’s application for financial assistance by granting it a P20-million loan specifically to upgrade the distribution system to stop water production bleeding through leaks.

Santiago said the rehabilitation of the water district’s water distribution system is at 70 percent but work has stopped as the contractor refused to continue due to unpaid billings.

The payments could not be processed and paid because the BOD, the governing body, could not muster quorum having been left with only one member.

State auditors pointed out that even if the Board is created, there is no assurance that the water district would be able to stay afloat due to its history of dismal operating performance, loan defaults, and denial of trade credits.

“The water district is financially incapable to pay its loan amortizations to LWUA. In fact, from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023, there was not a single payment of any loan due to insufficiency of funds,” the Commission on Audit said.

Auditors recommended that the Cawad consider dissolution if it can find another entity willing to assume its obligations and liabilities and if it convinces a competent court that this will serve public interest.

In the meantime, the 1,262 households and business establishments that are connected to Cawad’s lines are waiting on the other end for the water service to resume.

Cabusao municipal officials have been forced to look elsewhere to fill the gap.

Water tankers have provided a lifeline by drawing supplies from the neighboring Libmanan Water District and crossing municipal borders to deliver potable water to thirsty Cabusao residents.

On April 17, 2024, Cabusao Mayor Weny Sabalbero announced the start of production of a water desalination plant in Barangay Castillo to help ease up the problem a little.

As floodwaters recede and scars of Kristine’s wrath start to fade, Cabusao’s old problem remains.

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