BAGUIO CITY – Irate residents of some portions of Scout Barrio criticized the John Hay Water Systems, Inc. (JHWSI) for its alleged failure to provide them with timely and valid explanations on its inability to provide them with water supply for over three weeks now.
Sources, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal from the company, accused JHSWI of being insensitive in dealing with them because the company never provided them with explanations on the absence of their water supply for three weeks now.
Further, the source claimed that the private water company did not even provide them with alternative sources of water through deliveries or whatsoever over the past three weeks that kept them guessing on what are the reasons for the lack of water supply in their community.
Another irate source denounced the water company because no personnel had been assigned to answer the queries of the consumers in their hotline, 074-445-0486, which is unlikely for a firm endowed with public service.
According to the affected residents, it seems that JHSWI allegedly diverted the water supply supposedly for the Scout Barrio community to the various hotel and accommodation facilities within Camp John hay that deprived them of water supply over the past three weeks which runs counter to the fact that the residents should be given priority in the supply of water.
Some residents admitted that they were compelled to purchase water from private water delivery companies even at a high cost of P80 per drum with 20 drums minimum order while waiting for the water supply from the company to be released.
Moreover, some residents opted to purchase mineral water by the galloons from the various stores in the neighborhood because it is much cheaper rather than opting to buy their water supply from the private delivery companies.
What is ironical in the current situation in Scout Barrio, according to some residents, is that no representative from the company or even concerned barangay officials have issued public advisories about the said problem so that the people will be fully aware of the real score in terms of water supply or if there will be water in their homes within a reasonable period of time.
The sources explained that they did not publicly air their grievance against the JHWSI because they were hoping that there will be an improvement on how they deal with their customers even if there were numerous instances in the past where there were unreasonable water interruptions in their community when there is a peak in tourist arrivals but they are already tired of what is happening where outside intervention is already needed to address the pressing concern in the area.
The sources urged local legislators to conduct an inquiry relative to the difficult situation that they had been experiencing from the water company for JHWSI to be transparent on the real situation on the supply of water that should be provided to the community because their silence of the repeated complaints of the consumers is no longer acceptable.
The sources demanded the JHWSI to come out with a definitive answer on how long will Scout Barrio residents continue to suffer the consequences of lack of water supply because they were already burdened by the lack of water supply in their community over the past three weeks and how will the company compensate them for such severe damage to their lives.By Dexter A. See
