Councilor Rachel Zozobrado slammed the Bureau of Plant Industry XI in today's council session for continuously denying potable water to the residents of Sitio Cebuda in Bago Oshiro despite efforts by the local government to enter into a compromise agreement with the agency.

She also chided BPI for arrogating upon itself the power to declare anybody as an illegal settler.

“Most of the residents of Sitio Cebuda have lived in the area for more than 30 years without access to any potable water system and this right is being continuously denied them,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said in a privilege speech.

Even councilor Pilar Braga, chair of the Council committee on Transportation and Energy criticized BPI saying the agency’s bureaucracy is proving to be “detrimental to public service”.

Former councilor Jesus Zozobrado, Jr. allocated funding in his Annual Development Fund for the installation of mainline water pipes at Purok 5, Sitio Cebuda, Bago Oshiro in Tugbok District. However, the project suffered a setback in Match 2007 after BPI head Lorna Herradura asked the City Engineer’s Office and the Davao City Water District to stop the project as it traverses an area under the administration of BPI.

“The project was 90% completed but DCWD refused to conduct hydro-testing (the last part of the project) until the issue is resolved,” she said. Herradura however refused to compromise saying that the installation of the water system will encourage squatters along the BPI property.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ordered the City Engineer to look into the matter so as not to delay the project. The latter declared that only 10% of the project traversed through the area claimed by BPI while 90% traversed a city road. The necessary adjustments were made to make sure the project did not go through the BPI area prompting DCWD to agree to the hydro testing.

But almost a year after the project’s completion and after the city government shelled out thousands of pesos for the water project, the main line remains unused. And despite the availability of a main water line, DCWD continues to deny the applications for water connection made by Sitio Cebuda residents.

“Despite her undertaking during a committee hearing under Braga’s committee, Herradura continues to be stubborn and refuses to meet with the barangay officials of Bago Oshiro,” Zozobrado said. She even drafted a Memorandum of Agreement, the terms of which were detrimental to the interests of both the residents as well as the city government, she added.

Zozobrado said Herradura’s contention that the pipes should not be opened as it will only encourage squatting in the area borders on arrogance and sheer apathy.

“These are living, breathing human beings and their need for potable water is indubitable,” Zozobrado said. Such need, she added, was recognized by the city government when it allocated funds to construct the water pipe system in the area.

She said if BPI claims that the residents of Sitio Cebuda are illegal settlers, then they should address their claim to the land in the proper court.