NCRPO urged to explore MPD water debt woes

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The National Capital Region Police Office should look into the particular reasons why the debts for the water supply of the Manila Police District grew to millions to the point that it was cut off by its utility service provider, a Philippine National Police spokesman said.

“Dapat tignan ng NCRPO … para matugunan ang problema na ito,” Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said.

Cerbo noted that it is the regional office which has jurisdiction over the allocation of budget for its corresponding district offices.

He, however, said that the amount of expenses for utilities – electricity, water, communication, and Internet connections – tend to grow as the number of police officers increase through the years.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Rene Aspera, NCRPO Regional Logistics Division chief, said MPD’s debt of about P12 million was an amount accumulated since 2005 for two water meters of the MPD Headquarters on United Nations Avenue.

The first meter was cut ahead of the other, he said, adding that pipe leakages were found and are now being repaired.

He, however, said that NCRPO is sourcing money from its savings to pay the balance on a staggered basis.

In order to restore MPD’s water connection, Cerbo said the National Headquarters has provided a budget to pay roughly 10 percent of the total debt.