Butuan has highest water, power rates

Manila Standard Today

By Alvin T. Guanzon | Mar. 01, 2014 at 12:01am

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte --- Residents of this city pay the highest water and electricity rates in the country, which could be one of the reasons why 70 percent of the people are poor, members of the city council said.

Councilor Serge Pascual said Butuan residents pay P208.65 for 10 cubic meters but in Cagayan de Oro the rate was only P138.40 for 10 cubic meters and P137.30 for 10 cubic meters in Davao.

“If the user request for a one-inch pipe connection, the rate goes up to P667 per 10 cubic meters,” Pascual said.

Butuan City residents also pay P8.193 per kilowatt hour of electricity but in Davao City the rate is only P7.19 per kilowatt hour and P7.39 per kilowatt hour in Cagayan de Oro City.

“Wala na ngang trabaho, mahal pa yung kuryente at tubig. Kawawa talaga mga tao sa Butuan City, Pascual said.

Councilor Ryan Culima, chairman of the Committee on Public Utilities, said the steep water and electricity rates have prevented investors from coming to Butuan, which could help generate jobs for residents.

Water in the city is provided by the Butuan City Water District and the Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative supplies electricity.   source