THE Bamboo Bay Condominium Corp. (BBCC) said it has disconnected the water supply of 20 condo units, including lawyer Rex Fernandez’s unit, after non-payment of condo corporation dues.
On Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, Fernandez, a human rights lawyer who lives in a unit at Bamboo Bay located in Brgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue City, initiated a hunger strike after his water supply was disconnected despite the presence of an injunction order.
As of press time, Fernandez continues his hunger strike at the entrance of the property where his tent is set up.
In a press conference on Aug. 16, BBCC vice president Fidel Abalos said they are not singling out anyone and they have disconnected the water lines of 20 units.
Bamboo Bay has 600 units, 500 of which are occupied, said Abalos.
According to Abalos, there is no case filed against the management, only against the developer, Contempo Property Holdings Inc.
With regard to the injunction order, lawyer Deolito Alvarez, legal counsel of Contempo, told the media that they cannot discuss the main issues on the injunction order as it is pending in court and he can only confirm that there is an injunction order filed by Fernandez against Contempo and not against BBCC.
Abalos said the prime reason for the disconnection is the non-payment of Fernandez of his condo corporate dues for almost four years.
According to Abalos, they also need funds right now to finance the additional cost of their operations such as the disinfection and sanitation of the property with the Covid-19 pandemic that’s going on.
He said the uncollected dues for each unit owner have reached up to a six-figure amount and the overall uncollected dues reached a seven-figure amount.
Abalos declined to divulge the exact number in respect of the privacy act.
Abalos also told the media that BBCC had issued five notices to the unit owners regarding the disconnection due to unpaid condo dues.
Earlier, Fernandez told SunStar Cebu that he religiously paid his electricity and water bills every month.
Abalos admitted that Fernandez paid his utility bills every month. However, there are also common facilities shared among unit owners that need to be maintained, therefore, condo dues are necessary.
“You are not only supposed to pay for the expenses in your unit. You also have to share in any expenses in the common areas, and this is what condo dues are being spent on,” said Abalos.
He said it is also unfair to those who are paying their condo dues religiously while non-payers enjoy the same services.
Asked about their resolution with Fernandez holding a hunger strike, Abalos said it is Fernandez’s personal decision.
“It is up to Atty. Fernandez when to stop this hunger strike,” said Abalos. (KFD)