Wet ambition

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City of ILIGAN ― When we say “wet” it has something to do with water. And it became the topic of the city’s topics. Water, or the lack of it, drips from the faucets of every home. Therefore, this city has “ambitions” or dreams about that matter.

This is not to be confused with “wet dreams.” Or “wetting” the bed where a person sleeps because of some water from…ah, don’t think as it is understood. Now talking about dreams, I was amused when I saw a message on the T-shirt that said: “Follow your dreams. Go back to bed.” Ha ha ha, but it’s time to get serious now because this is not funny.

The city is known as the “city of waterfalls.” There are 23 or 24 of them. But “the water supply here is true or false.” This is what CPA Marianito “Dodong” Alemania said when he was not vice mayor of the city. This was a criticism of the then mayor of the city, Celso G. Regencia, whose handling of the said problem was only participating in the blame game. Like “the previous administration’s water project was a failure.”

Now is the time for the administration under Mayor Frederick W. Siao to address the matter. How to solve the problem. So that every household here has a lot of water dripping into their homes when the taps are turned on.

So, the solution they came up with after many studies and evaluations? PPP or Public Private Partnership. What kind of mammal is this? It is a “partnership” as the term suggests, between the government and a public entity called a “corporation.” Under that plan, the latter must manage the water delivery system here from the sources here. Because it’s “more efficient.”

I told this to a lawyer, former city administrator, Leo M. Zaragoza. He said that through this scheme, it always goes to the private sector with an advantage. Because, eventually, they will own the water supply. Or something like that.

Therefore, we private citizens should be careful in this direction. If so, why not privatize LGU units, barangays, etc.?

Good point, lawyer. Some residents here are even thinking of holding a rally. “Forward thinking,” they say. Now this is also what the state-run Power Assets and Liabilities Corporation (PSALM) is thinking of Agus-Pulangi Hydro Complex in Mindanao. According to the report, PSALM is studying the privatization of the Agus-Pulangi hydro complex in Mindanao through a concession agreement. And well, many people are “suspicious” of this move.

And the president of PSALM said that he is getting approval from the Joint Congressional Energy Commission on the privatization of the hydropower plant.

Question: Do the people of Mindanao, especially this part of the island, sit on it? Something has to give!

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