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[av_heading heading=’SP: Let city intervene in Roxas water district’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENN VIDAL BEUP
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Friday, May 26, 2017
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ROXAS City – Sangguniang Panlungsod members want the city government to intervene in the Metro Roxas Water District (MRWD).
Specifically the councilors want the mayor to be given the authority to appoint the MRWD Board of Directors.
Councilors and residents criticized the water distribution utility for its alleged inefficiency and poor services.
Councilor Julius Abela, committee on public utilities chairman, considers filing a resolution proposing such setup.
Councilor Albert Potato, on the other hand, said he received “plenty of text messages” from residents complaining about the “low water pressure” or lack of water supply in various areas in the city.
“We can improve MRWD services if the city mayor has a hand in the appointment of the Board of Directors,” Potato told this reporter. “But it doesn’t mean the city government will take over the operational management.”
It is a good time for such setup, especially that the MRWD is close to fully paying its loan with the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), said Potato.
The LWUA appointed the existing interim Board of Directors of the MRWD.
But MRWD general manager Glenn Delgado doubt the legality of the proposed setup, citing the Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2016-146 signed by then Interior secretary Ismael Sueno.
“Local authorities are reminded of the operational autonomy of local water districts,” the memo stated. “Water districts are autonomous agencies independent of local government units. It would be best for water districts [to] be allowed to operate without the least hindrance and interference from local officials but with maximum support and assistance.”
“While the Local Government Code provides for the legal basis relative to the devolution powers, functions and attributes granted by law to the Local Water Utilities Administration to local water districts, should they opt to exercise such powers, functions and attributes, there is nothing in the Code that indicates that it has repealed the pertinent provisions of PD (Presidential Decree) 198, as amended,” the memo further stated.
As regards the loans, the MRWD still owes the LWUA “almost P20 million out of the P930 million we obtained from them,” and a local branch of the Land Bank of the Philippines “around P900 million,” Delgado said.
“We pay the LWUA an 8.5-percent interest and [the Land Bank] 5 percent. That’s why I lobbied with the Board to transfer the account to the [Land Bank]. As a result, we saved P3 million a month,” he added.
Delgado admitted the low water pressure but promised it will “become normal once the two pumping machines become fully operational.”/PN
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