LUCENA CITY, Quezon – Quezon Provincial Board Member Ferdinand “Bong” Talabong is planning to file a class suit against a private water company for alleged lack of proper water supply services here and Tayabas City and Pagbilao town in this province.
Talabong, in a privilege speech on Tuesday, August 22, during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said as an ordinary consumer of Prime Water Infrastructure Corp., he will lead the filing of the legal option together with other water concessionaires in this city who are not content with the services being rendered by the company.
TALABONG (Danny Estacio)
A lawyer by profession, Talabong said he will file the case before the proper authority, whether the Local Water Utilities Administration or the regular courts, for breach of contract and specific performance.
Talabong, in his personal inquiry, found out that some small restaurants in the city proper are closed in certain days due to lack of water supply, adding that even some hotels have temporarily closed due to the water crisis.
He narrated that a friend approached him with her vehicle full of containers begging for help about the lack of water in her building for about a month.
The water company said this problem is caused by low production capacity and clogged service connections.
However, Talabong did not accept this explanation. “I think it is unacceptable and unjustifiable,” he said.
Talabong said Prime Water and the Quezon Metropolitan Water District entered into a joint venture agreement on August 16, 2018.
When the joint venture took place, QMWD customers were hoping that the water services would be better, but ironically, it seems it is getting worse, Talabong said.
Talabong said that just recently, Prime Water and the QMWD were invited by Sangguniang Panlalawigan to a hearing where they revealed that they need more five years to fully make their services efficient and effective.
He said this problem needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
“It is true there are certain legal principles and provisions that water utility companies enjoy full autonomy from local government but, when the people are already complaining and already having a hard time regarding this shortage of water supply, something has to be done,” Talabong said.