Bulk water supplier Mactan Rock gets project review

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Mactan Rock Industries Inc. (MRII), a bulk water supply contractor with the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) has expressed its appreciation to the MIWD Board of Directors for extending reconsideration to MRII’s project.

Mactan Rock Industries president Antonio Tompar during a media briefing.

MRII President Antonio Tompar disclosed at a recent media briefing that the MIWD Board has agreed to review the delayed status of the MRII bulk water supply project, instead of cancelling the contract. The contract calls for the supply potable water by MRII of 5,000 cubic meters per day to the MIWD.

Engr. Tompar said the review came after Mactan Rock explained to the MIWD Board some external factors that caused the delay in project implementation. Among these are months of work stoppage on the project sites earlier ordered by the concerned Local Government Units. The issues have since been settled with the pertinent authorities of the said LGUs, Engr. Tompar further said.

Early on, Mactan Rock has appealed the MIWD plan to cancel the project after the bulk water supply contractor has incurred about 13% work slippage in the contract. Such percentage of negative slippage has been cited as enough reason to cancel the project if the bulk water supply is considered a “purchase of goods or product.”

But MRII cited a Supreme Court ruling that ‘bulk water supply contracts are construction projects’ and the corresponding laws on implementing of said construction projects should be applied, Engr. Tompar elaborated. He noted that under the law, construction projects in contract with the government can only be cancelled if these exceeded the 15% negative slippage.

“Mactan Rock is hopeful that the reconsideration extended by the MIWD Board will pave the way for a successful implementation of its bulk water supply project which the Ilonggo consumers direly need,” Engr. Tompar said. He recalled that Pilipinas Water, a sister firm of Mactan Rock were among those who answered the call for assuring the delivery of enough water supply last year when Iloilo City hosted the APEC preparatory meetings.

The MIWD franchise area covers Iloilo City and some of the adjoining towns in the First, Second and Third Congressional districts of Iloilo. Since its inception in 1979 the water district has been perennially saddled with the lack of water supply in its franchise area.

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