CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Friday extended for 17 days the temporary restraining order (TRO) that barred the Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. (COBI) from cutting the water supply to the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD).

The TRO was filed by former city councilor Eric Salcedo and radio broadcaster Ronnie Waniwan after COBI sent a disconnection notice to the COWD on May 14.

Judge Ann Candida Casiño of RTC Branch 17 granted the TRO for 72 hours on May 14 and the 17-day extension on May 17.

Casiño also required the petitioners to post a P10-million bond to answer any damages that COBI, Metro Pacific Water Investment Corp. and COWD may suffer as a result of the TRO.

The court also set the hearing on the petition for permanent injunction on May 28.

Just as the court issued an extension of the TRO, the Local Water Utility Administration (LWUA) also passed a resolution for the "full takeover" of the embattled water district.

The LWUA Board Resolution 34, dated May 17, called for a six-month full takeover of COWD and the appointment of an interim general manager and board of directors effective immediately.

Gerry Caño, one of the board of directors of COWD, said that three of the five-man members of the board are likely to be replaced.

He said that the LWUA administrator has the authority to appoint the interim officials for the COWD takeover.

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