The local government of Cagayan de Oro City has declared a state of emergency due to the water crisis that may arise from the conflict between the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) and Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. (COBI).

Mayor Rolando Uy issued an executive order placing the city under a state of emergency on May 1, 2024, due to the disconnection of bulk water supply of COBI to COWD.

COBI has maintained that COWD has unpaid balance of more than P429 million, which the latter denied.

The city government has come up with interventions to mitigate the effects of the cutting off of the bulk water supply, including the request for the City Council to pass a resolution adopting the recommendation to declare a state of emergency.

Under the executive order, the Incident Management Team is tasked to conduct a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) to determine the impact of the water cutoff.

COWD Division Manager, Engineer Antonio Young, said measures are already in place to ensure that water supply will remain available.

These measures include the emergency purchase of bulk water from other suppliers and water rationing.

During the special session evening on Wednesday, May 1, the legislative body passed five resolutions to ensure that water service will not be interrupted.

Among the resolutions passed were the urgent request for COWD to make an emergency purchase of bulk water supply from other bulk water suppliers and the adoption of the executive order placing the city under a state of emergency.

The legislative body also approved a resolution directing COBI and its parent company Metro Pacific to explain why they should not be declared as persona non grata for their decision to disconnect their water supply service to COWD.

A resolution was also passed requesting the Commission on Audit (COA) to investigate the contact between COBI and COWD.

Uy said he has no problem as to what company will supply water as long as the people will not be caught in the crossfire.

“Mismo sa COBI dili ko musupak apan usa lang ang akong ihangyo i-rescind lang tangtangon lang ang pagpausbaw sa balayrunon sa tubig nga matag tulo katuig nga ako mismo nakita nako ang makaluluoy ang katawhan,” Uy said.