SP asks COWD for copy of COBI contract

IN its regular session on Monday, the 20th City Council officially asked the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) to provide a certified copy of the 2017 contract it entered into with the Cagayan de Oro City Bulk Water, Inc. (COBI). 

This request was made after Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas made a special report highlighting the COWD’s outstanding obligation to COBI in the amount of P400 million. 

“Problema gyud ta karon sa tubig. I think there will be a possibility nga dili na ta ma suplayan og tubig kay ang utang sa atong COWD sa Cagayan de Oro City Bulk Water, Inc. (COBI) niabot nas 400 million, mga inana. There is now a demand for the payment and, if there is no payment, you know the cutting-off of supply will follow,” lamented the councilor.

Cabanlas recalled the contract signing in Manila between the two parties in 2017. However, the said contract has not undergone a review process by the previous City Council, leading to the current predicament.

Although the city government is open to assisting COWD in resolving the obligation, the councilor emphasized the importance of having a comprehensive understanding of all the provisions in the contract. 

“The people of Cagayan de Oro will suffer kung walay kwarta ang COWD para pambayad. They cannot also borrow money kay ang Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) wala sad kwarta, and they can’t borrow from local banks kay wala silay capacity to borrow. If we have to help, kinahanglan makabalo kita kinsa kani atong gatabangan. Wala kita kabalo unsay sulod sa kontrata,” Cabanlas further manifested.