BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – The Iloilo Local Economic Development Foundation Inc. (ILED), a joint private/public non-government organization here, has passed a resolution endorsing the move to privatize Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).
ILED’s Resolution No. 2 endorses House Resolution No. 1363 filed by Rep. Jerry Treñas.
The congressman urged the Local Water Utilities Administration and MIWD to initiate the process of privatizing the water district.
As an umbrella organization of 350 small, medium and large businesses employing thousands of workers, ILED has expressed concern over the reliability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of water supply and distribution in Iloilo City.
It cited the lingering suffering of Iloilo City residents due to poor water connection, intermittent service and inadequate water supply especially in commercial buildings, industrial sites and residential homes.
“Lasting solution is desperately needed to immediately rehabilitate MIWD as billions of pesos in investments in the areas of tourism, business process outsourcing, commercial real estate development, residential condominiums, services and light manufacturing industries are dependent on reliable water distribution in the province,” the resolution reads.
Attested by ILED president Narzalina Lim, the resolution slammed MIWD for being unreliable and ineffective in address the growing needs of Metro Iloilo and the contiguous municipalities in the province of Iloilo.
The group also said the water district has failed to implement capital expenditures to cover its franchise area, organize a strong management structure to oversee its operations, and generate revenue to maintain its functions through the years.
Lim recently blasted the city government’s plan to take over MIWD’s water distribution function.
Water distribution is a private affair, thus the Iloilo City government “has no business running it,” said Lim, former Tourism secretary and an Ilongga from Antique.
The city government should only “regulate,” “set policies” and ensure that the private sector running MIWD does it job well, said Lim./PN
