BAGUIO CITY: Mayor Benjamin Magalong warned water delivery companies that take advantage of water supply shortage gripping the Summer Capital.

The mayor said his office received reports that certain water delivery firms have jacked up their prices, charging as much as P80 per drum which is double the usual price of P40 per drum.

"This is unacceptable, unethical and immoral. You cannot take advantage of the people's misery and sufferings," the mayor stressed.

The mayor also noted other complaints such as the companies' unfair practices of prioritizing businesses and those with big orders over residences.

Magalong warned that the city government is prepared to cancel the business permits of those companies that take advantage of the situation.

"We will also have their deep well operations permit cancelled by the National Water Resources Board," the mayor warned.

He said that the city government has been working closely with the Baguio Water District (BWD) to remedy the current water shortage due to the lack of rain and searing temperatures.

BWD General Manager Salvador Royeca said that since December, water sources in the city have been experiencing seasonal decline aggravated by drought.

To address the problem, Royeca said the district has been working hard to complete its ongoing drilling projects which were started in the previous years to prepare for El Niño.

Royeca said three new deep wells are scheduled for completion and activation until May. These are the Balabac deep well along Balacbac Road, the operation of which began on April 14, 2024; the Amparo 7 deep well located at Amparo Heights, Camp 7; and the Ramsey deep well at Bakakeng which will become operational anytime soon.

He said the three new deep wells will augment the city's water yield with a combined production of 5,000 cubic meters of potable water daily.

The Balacbac deep well will benefit over 6,000 clients in Balacbac, parts of Marcos Highway including all laterals towards Legarda, Dr. Cariño, parts of QM and Rock Quarry while the Amparo 7 deep well which is currently undergoing final evaluation and assessment will serve 5,000 active connections in parts of Camp 7, Bakakeng, Balsigan, the Central Business District via the BWD BGH Tank, and supply areas along Magsaysay Road and Quezon Hill, among others.

Royeca said the Ramsey deep well 'is being expedited to bolster the water conveyed toward the BWD Marcos Highway tank, which caters to Sto. Niño-Bengao, Crystal Cave, Kitma, and surrounding areas."

Last February, the district inaugurated the Zigzag deep well along Kennon Road and activated the Richwood deep well along Easter-Guisad Road on March 12, 2024.

New drilling projects are also underway at Slaughterhouse and Camp 7.