ILIGAN City ― People here dub this city a “city of waterfalls.” No, something must be inserted here. “City of Majestic Waterfalls” Right? Of course. Everybody here agrees. Yet there is a but.

For, although this newly minted Vice Mayor, Marianito Alemania agrees, he says his but…but the water delivery system here is “true or false!”

Ah, what? I wanted to add: Is it right minus wrong?

But kidding aside, there’s much to be desired there. In its delivery to the homes of the 310,000 or so residents here. Many of the barangays here, of which there are 44, are still “unwatered.” So, what’s the solution? I mean, how must this be addressed? (Some people favor the word “address” as this is more proper.)

The previous admin just engaged in the “blame game.” As in, “the past administration has to be blamed for the failure of this water project!.” As if blaming will make the water problem disappear, even if you’re the one now who’s in charge.

Now, the immediate past administration had been in charge for nine years.

Although that nine years had been marked by suspensions and more and more suspensions. Both in the legislative and executive departments. Not counting too the imprisonment of the executive (read: Celso G. Regencia).

So, how could they address such watery concerns with all those well, “interruptions?” (There is however another “wet” project called the “Wet Park” which was finished in due time.)

To note though, this efficient delivery of water into every resident’s home here is a multi-faceted one I suppose. Is it a problem in engineering? Or a political problem or a management problem, or a “funding” problem?

Or all of the above?

So, there was this Water Dialogue on August 26 to 27. Which involved experts and maybe, non-experts who were interested in the matter. Bobby Nanaman chair of the Technical Working Group of the said activity had seen to it, together with the members of said group of course, that people who had such expertise on the matter were around. Even those from outside the city were there, from Manila, Cagayan de Oro, and elsewhere were there for their input. The academe too was included. Especially, those coming from the MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology. But didn’t they say “two heads are better than one?” Anyway, there were more than two heads. But even then, the broth was “not spoiled” as they say too in another quote.

The “dialogue” came up with a consensus. Among the matters that must be addressed in connection with this water supply to the residents is a combination of those stated above ― engineering, politics, management, funding, etc.

And maybe, this will all roughly fall under management. So, who will “majestically” manage this water? No, not really “majestically” but “efficiently,” I should say. Is it a corporation? A private one? Whose primary concern is “profit,” thus adding to the peoples’ burden on their now sagging shoulders?

Especially now that the peso to the dollar is now nearing the “senior citizenship” status?

Well, the analysis, per consensus, is that it must be a GOCC or Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation.

And not the present ICWS or Iligan City Water Works System. So, for the moment there’s this “water therapy” seen from several perspectives. And you know what? The water here, they say, is alkaline. Wow, majestic na, alkaline pa!

Email: norasorino2@gmail.com