THE Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) Management, led by General Manager Engr. Antonio Young, has responded to concerns about the perceived lack of urgency from the COWD Board of Directors regarding a critical meeting that failed to convene on April 30, 2024.
In a statement released today, General Manager Young emphasized the Board’s commitment to addressing the demands of the Cagayan de Oro Bulk Inc. (COBI).
Following the receipt of a demand letter from COBI, the Board of Directors promptly approved a contingency plan, coordinated with the local government, and formed a negotiating team to reach a resolution.
On the scheduled meeting date of April 30, 2024, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) called for an urgent negotiation meeting attended by representatives from the LWUA, COBI, and the COWD negotiating team, along with the COWD board chairperson.
According to Young, the COWD negotiating team firmly believes a successful agreement was reached during the meeting, which they plan to endorse to the COWD Board of Directors for further review and appropriate action.
He said that at the request of COBI and LWUA, the COWD attempted to hold an Emergency Board Meeting on the same day.
However, due to the short notice and prior scheduled meetings of the Board members, the meeting could not proceed as planned.
As a result, he said, the COWD Management communicated directly with COBI, indicating that their proposals would be discussed by the Board of Directors in the following days, and requested that the water supply not be cut off in the meantime.
The COWD expresses its regret over COBI’s decision to potentially cut off the water supply to the people of Cagayan de Oro, especially since the Board had not yet made a decision on their request and had only asked for additional time and consideration to deliberate on the proposals.
“Despite the challenges faced by the COWD at present, the management assures the public of their sincere efforts to find a resolution to the situation,” said Young.
Young added that this release by the COWD management aims to clarify the sequence of events leading up to the potential water supply interruption and to reassure the public of the ongoing negotiations and efforts to prevent any disruption of service.
Young maintains that the COWD remains steadfast in its commitment to serving the needs of the Cagayan de Oro community and ensuring that an amicable solution is reached at the earliest possible time.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
