ILOILO CITY (PNA) – “Political election is now in the past and we have to see what is good for the city and the people’s interest in the face of the continuing onslaughts of the El Niño phenomenon and climate change,” Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas told members of the Iloilo City Council.

As it is, one very serious problem in Iloilo City currently is the shortage of potable water and there is now an urgent need to declare the city under a state of calamity because of this, underlined Treñas.

A recent letter from the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) which details a serious water problem in the city and the MIWD’s limited capability in addressing the problem was endorsed by Treñas to the Iloilo City Council for immediate action.

“There is no politics here. The election is over and we have to do something to solve the water shortage problem,” stressed Treñas. “The MIWD has admitted it can only provide potable water supply to some 20 percent of the population; what about the needs of the remaining 80 percent? Whose responsibility is that?”

Treñas also said there is urgent need to amend a 15-year old law, that is, Regulation Ordinance 94-012 passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in March 2, 1994, specifically Sec. 3 of Ordinance 93-114 which asks for “regulating the operation and construction of deep and shallow wells for commercial purposes” in any area in the city of Iloilo.

He said the city council must understand that the situation in 1994 was no longer the same in 2010 and there is a need now for more realistic, practical and humane approaches to solve the water shortage problem.

“Despite the incoming rains which will be brought by the La Niña in the next few weeks, water shortage remains a serious problem in the city because of the MIWD’s inadequacy,” Treñas said.

Last week, a bulk water seller was found to have no pertinent locational clearance and business permit and was issued a Notice of Violation.

Arnold Bilbao of Barangay Hibao-an Norte, Mandurriao district was told to stop his operations immediately until he’s able to be issued the necessary clearance.

Bilbao was reportedly extracting some 120 cubic meters of water from four deep wells in his property and selling water at P200 per cubic meters to several city hospitals and shopping malls.