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MARIKINA CITY — Mayor Maan Teodoro, the Shoe Capital of the Philippines’ local chief executive, once again displayed decisive and caring leadership as she personally went to Manila Water’s Branch Office in the city and handed over Php15 million in check that re-opened the waterless-taps of Barangay Tumana residents.
The amount — she earlier vowed to go after those responsible for the “water-borne” mess — represented the said community’s over Php30 million unpaid bills with the water concessionaire agreeing to re-opened 100 percent the flow of its waters to the residents who feared and worried of a Christmas without water.
With that amount, it served as the initial payment for Barangay Tumana’s debts to Manila Water. restoring a vital basic need for the community.
The mayor, alongside Marikina District 1 Rep. Marcy Teodoro and members of the City Council, personally went to the Manila Water office in the barangay on Saturday morning, December 20, to hand over the Php15 million cheque to the water concessionaire’s personnel.
“Ngayong araw ay nagbayad tayo ng Php15 million sa Manila Water bilang initial payment upang agarang ma-reconnect ang water services ng nasa 3,000 residents ng Barangay Tumana,” said Mayor Maan.
After the payment, the city officials accompanied Manila Water personnel to oversee the opening of the 13 water gate valves in Barangay Tumana, ensuring that the water supply has been fully restored.
Earlier, Mayor Maan sent a letter to Ronan Abear, Business Operations director — Marikina Service Area (East Zone Service Area) — on Saturday, informing the water company of the Php15 million allocation as emergency humanitarian assistance.
The local chief executive stressed that, “the sudden loss of water supply poses an immediate threat to public health, sanitation, and human dignity, particularly for children, senior citizens, and individuals with medical conditions.”
“No family should be deprived of this basic necessity, especially during a season meant for dignity, care, and hope,” she added.
During his term as mayor, Marikina District Representative Teodoro paid Php8.8 million to Manila Water to reduce the mounting debt of Tumana to the water concessionaire.
The debt of Barangay Tumana to Manila Water then was only around Php20 million. As of this month, the debt has ballooned to Php37,192,199.98 which led to the disconnection of the water supply on December 18.
“Noong ako ay mayor, nabawasan na ang utang pero lumobo pa rin ito noong nakaraang dalawang taon. Nagbayad kami ng Php8.8 million upang matiyak na hindi maputol ang supply ng tubig,” said Rep. Teodoro.
“Noong panahong iyon, Php20 million pa lang ang utang ng Tumana. Kaya nakakapagtaka na lumobo ito ngayon ng almost Php40 million,” he went on.
Mayor Maan stressed that the local government will hold accountable all officials who were liable for failing to settle the Php37 million debt.
“Hahanapin at papanagutin natin ang mga responsable. May mananagot, at sisiguruhin nating hindi na ito mauulit,” she said. (/)