Council to probe “overpriced" water test

The Cebu City Council approved a resolution seeking for an investigation into the allegedly overpriced city's water testing scheme, and a review of the current water testing procedures.

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Councilor Alvin Arcilla sponsored the resolution after receiving complaints from private and business consumers about allegedly overpriced testing fees, besides questionable testing procedures, done by a third-party laboratory.

In his resolution, Arcilla noted that under Section 67, Item (I), Chapter 18 of City Ordinance No. 69, the official rates and fees for obtaining a Sanitary Permit -including the issuance of a Certificate of Potability of Water and Potability of Ice range only from P50 to P100. These rates are supposed to be affordable and standardized, he said.

The complainants, however, claimed that the testing fees being charged to them range from P3,000 to P7,000 per establishment, said the councilor.

Arcilla said the Cebu City Health Department has its own water testing capacity. Despite this, he added, the complainants claimed they are still required to engage a third-party supplier to conduct the tests, and determine if the water is potable.