CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 1 -- This city's chief executive has requested the local legislative body to declare a "state of emergency" due to an unresolved contract dispute surrounding the city's water supply.

On Wednesday, Mayor Rolando Uy signed Executive Order (EO) 196-2024 as a protective measure against the threat of the Cagayan de Oro Bulkwater, Inc. (COBI) to disconnect the city-run Cagayan de Oro Water District's (COWD) water supply.

The problem stems from COBI's demand for COWD to pay its outstanding balance of PHP479 million after failed negotiations.

Uy's EO established an Incident Management Team to conduct a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis to determine the impact of the bulk water cutoff. It also created the Cagay...