header
 
 

DCWD keen on Comprehensive Illegal Connection Prosecution program
 

Targeting to bring down non-revenue water to 25% or lower as set by the Local Water Utilities Association (LWUA) for a water utility under very large category, the Davao City Water District is keen on its Comprehensive Illegal Connection Prosecution program (CICPP). It sees the need to eliminate illegal connection as this contributes to non-revenue water (NRW) that form part of commercial losses. The average NRW recorded during the first quarter of 2009  was  28% and DCWD is bent at bringing it down to 25% or lower as said. 

DCWD’s implementation of the CICPP has legal mandates emanating from Presidential Decree 198 or the "Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973" and Republic Act 8041 itself. The violations are: 1) illegal direct water tapping and 2) tampering of water meter, installing and/or using of the same.  Both offenses are punishable by imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine not exceeding double the amount of the value of water stolen.  

For Out-of-Court settlement, the DCWD is implementing the following penalties: 1) water meter tampering case - administrative charge amounting

 


Direct tapping of pipe from the service line is a form of illegal connection.

to Php 5, 000.00 plus the average consumption multiplied by 150% and the cost of the water meter; 2) illegal tapping cases, - Php 5,000.00 administrative charge plus standard average consumption multiplied by 200% and the cost of water meter.

In case payment of settlement is made on installment basis, the offender must pay an equivalent to 50% of the settlement amount and the other 50% will be paid over a maximum of 3 months.

Since the implementation of the CICPP until March 2009, only 173 or roughly 44.93% out of 385 reported cases of illegal connections have been recorded as legitimate.  There are still no prosecuted cases for illegal connections to date mainly because those who have been caught have opted for Out-of-Court Settlement. 

The DCWD management partly attributes the success and sustainability of the CICPP to the general public. General manager Rodora N. Gamboa encourages the public to report illegal connection that they know or are suspicious about. She assures the outmost confidentiality of all informants and their valuable information such as the  name of suspected violator, specific location of the illegal activity, type of pilferage and other pertinent information.
 
As incentive, Gamboa explained that the informants will receive half of the total amount charged for the illegal connection done which they can claim after the payment of administrative charges and meter sales.
 
bg_bottom