The State Secretariat for Water, Sanitation and Urbanization, represented by the National Director for Water Services, Gustavo da Cruz, organized an awareness campaign for the local authorities in Díli, on the tariffs to be implemented for the consumption of potable water, which are established in the Ministerial Diploma Nº 1/2004 dated February 11th. The suco of Santa Cruz was, on June 25th,, the starting point for this campaign.
Gustavo da Cruz informed, “According to the above mentioned Ministerial Diploma, this coming August, we will be implementing the payment of tariffs by consumers in the city of Díli, and they shall be charged on a monthly basis, according to the following categories: for domestic consumers (resident), the first 14.000 liters of consumption, will be charged with a tariff of $ 0,20 per 1.000 liters; the domestic consumer using more than 14.000 liters, will be charged $ 0,40 per 1.000 liters; social consumption (drinking fountains / public water taps) will be charged $ 0,10 per 1.000 liters and social consumption (churches, mosques, pagodas, hospitals, schools and others) will be charged with a tariff of $ 0,15 for every 1.000 liters”.
The National Director for Water Services mentioned that “the implementation of tariffs for the use of drinking water is considered a contribution, and reflects the sense of ownership, as a positive impact. Payment of tariffs will stimulate awareness on the need to use water reasonably, so that it may reach everyone in the community.”
The chief of suco of Santa Cruz, Manuel Correia, considered that this awareness program “is a way to meet with the Heads of village, for a direct transmission of information on everyone’s rights and obligations. On my part, I will make every effort for this information to reach the members of the Suco Council, so that they may share the information among the population. “
This awareness program will also be held in other sucos in the city: Bemori, Kampung Alor, Fatuhada, Bairro Pité, Bidau Santana and Metiaut.