A few columns back we praised to high heavens the much improved manner with which the employees at the Matina Office of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) deal with their customers. Their very accommodating behavior, their readiness to extend assistance to those who come but wanting in knowledge what to do and who to approach was something we did not experience in the many years that we were one among the water firm’s thousands of consumers.
We assume that this marked improvement in the service of DCWD’s office employees is a product of its own experience in getting mostly negative feedbacks from the water consumers over the past years of their existence. And for that we are certain that most, if not all, of the water consumers are thankful and are hoping that such comportment will evolve into a corporate culture that anyone from the city will be proud to boast if they will have the opportunity outside of the Davao metropolis.
In the same columns we also said that as consumer of products or services of a public utility enterprise we will always have issues with the agency every now and then. It may not be on how we are treated in the office but possibly in the aspect of delivering the services that we are paying for monthly.
After a long while we have again found one issue that we need to bring to the attention of the water firm’s management, and perhaps with other business organizations that it is now partnering supposedly to improve and expand the coverage of its water distribution with sufficient supply and quality service.
But again we assure the management that we are not in any way withdrawing our appreciation of the new image it is sporting as we have personally saw and experienced a few weeks back.
What we are complaining now is the long delay in restoring the quality of water delivery in certain areas in Tugbok district including Talandang where we are now residing since the start of the CoViD 19 pandemic.
Here is what happened. Last April 24, 2024 we woke up as early as 5 in the morning to do some minor exercises as we are used to do to energize our ageing body. And our ritual includes watering the ornamental plants all over the perimeter of the 1000 square meter lot where our house stands. And what we got was burst of air from our faucets.
We waited for several hours hoping that the water supply will come back. But 50 minutes past noon there was still no water. So we have to communicate to the head of the DCWD communications unit to inquire. We got the answer at exactly 3:22 p.m.
We are quoting here verbatim the answer:
“Hi sir, may interruption po tayo ngayon. Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (9 hours) extended to 9 pm po.
“Wtaer supply has to be temporarily shut off in the affected areas to give way to the tapping and looping of a newly installed pipeline along Tacunan Road from Deca Homes to the junction of Purok 2A. Once completed, this will allow for the accommodation of additional service connections at the said project sites.”
On April 27, at 8:23 in the evening the water was still off starting at 7 in that morning as it was every morning since April 24. We informed the communications chief that it was already the fourth day that we experienced the water loss during the day and when it comes back during the night the pressure is very low and builds up only possibly after midnight when there are no more household activities in the affected areas.
We were replied at 6:40 in the morning of the next day, and was told “wala na man so far emergency. But we will check.”
We made more follow-ups as the situation was just the same since April 24. And what we got as answer was: “Sige po sir, will update po kung ano yung feedback ng team.”
Yesterday, Friday, is already the tenth day of our suffering from the water service outage during the day.
We are at a loss as to whose facility is being worked at. Is it that of the DCWD, or of the Apo Agua Infrastructura whose bulk water supply project was expected to boost the distribution services of the water entity?
If the pipeline tapping and looping have already been completed how come the service is still not restored to normal?
Would it be asking too much from either DCWD or the Apo Agua to be honest to us consumers so we cannot be goaded into forming our own negative speculations?
Or, is any of the two business entities or both. are just making empty promises when they talked about improved services once the Bulk Water Project is completed?
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