LEGAZPI CITY - Members of the urban poor federation here staged a rally last Monday in front of the Legazpi City Water District (LCWD) to protest the alleged privatization plan of the agency that would result in high water rates.

        Led by Numeriano de la Torre Jr., the group carried placards denouncing the alleged plan and the awarding to Aboitiz Corporation the right to operate the public utility without proper public bidding.

        The group also demanded that the local water district should make a financial report of its operations.

        In reply, Desiree Barcelon, LCWD public information officer, denied the urban poor’s allegations. “No, LCWD will not be privatized. What they are saying are not true but just baseless speculations,” she reiterated.

        She revealed that Aboitiz has not won the bidding and the right to run the local water district.

        “I’d like to emphasize that the reported privatization of LCWD is not true. LCWD is a government-owned or controlled corporation,” she insisted.

        She disclosed that on Dec. 29 2003, LCWD conducted a public hearing at the Legazpi Hope Christian School where the company rendered its financial report.

        Asked who the bidders were, Barcelona replied that no one has won the bidding. She also refused to identify the bidders because it is prohibited under RA 9184 or the Procurement Act.

        Barcelona said that LCWD has increased its rates effective February 2007 but the increase will be reflected in the March 2007 billing. She added that the local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) had already approved the water rates increase.

        According to her, the old rate was P122 for a minimum consumption of 10 cubic meters. Now the same volume will cost the consumer P135 or an increase of P13. Above the 10 cubic meter minimum consumption, the increase will be from P13.50 to P14.85 per cubic meter.