Probe urged on permit of John Hay water firm

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city council tasked the permits and licensing division of the city mayor’s office to check on the permit of the John Hay Water Systems, Incorporated (JHWSI), the operator of the water facility inside the John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ).

          

The body, in Resolution No. 270 series of 2013 authored by Councilors Leandro and Karminn Cheryl Dinner Yangot and Richard Carino, said the licensing office must determine if JHWSI and its affiliated company John Hay Springs, Incorporated (JHSI) have secured a permit to operate from the appropriate office and if their operation is covered by an authority from the Baguio Water District (BWD).

            

This, according to the resolution, was in the light of a report that the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) issued a cease and desist order on the operations of JHSI after it found out that it has no necessary government permits and licenses. 

“Accordingly, the bureau has also found out that JHSI has no certificate of registration from the BFAD to run a water refilling, manufacturing, and distributing bottled drinking water inside and outside of John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ).  Further investigation disclosed that JHSI distributes bottled water to firms inside the JHSEZ even without the necessary permits,” the resolution noted.

“Furthermore, John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) revealed that JHSI, along with its affiliated company, the JHWSI, are in clear violation of regulations for not securing clearance and consent of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to tap into the water source in Camp John Hay.”

The aldermen said that the JHWSI is “believed to be the biggest water operator in Baguio City next to Baguio Water District as it supplies water to almost all the barangays within John Hay and the barangays pay to them.  It also delivers water, including bottled water, to the other barangays in the city.”

“These latest accounts must be addressed the soonest considering that the health of the consuming public is at stake,” the resolution said stressing that part of the city government’s mandate is “to ensure that all water utility companies or water suppliers operating within the city have secured the necessary permit to operate from the appropriate agencies/offices in order to prevent the spread of water borne diseases that may give an adverse effect to the health of the public.”

           

The licensing office is expected to submit a comprehensive report on the matter.