Interim board to run MCWD affairs

CEBU, Philippines — Although the termination order he issued against the members of the board of Metropolitan Cebu Water District is still subject for review by the Local Water Utilities Administration, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he does not anymore recognize them.

As far as Labella is concerned, it is now the interim board of directors appointed by LWUA that he recognized as the legitimate governing body of the local water utility until he appoints a new set of directors.

Labella said the LWUA-appointed board will temporarily run the affairs of MCWD and not the remaining members of the board, led by Augustus Pe Jr., who are all recipient of the termination order he issued.

"For all intents and purposes, the board which I ordered to be dismissed is not functioning," said Labella.

The chairman of the board, Joel Mari Yu, had already resigned few days after he was served the termination order.

Because of what the LWUA described as “institutional crisis” in MCWD, an interim board composed of Atty. Roberto San Andres, LWUA’s Legal Department manager; Aileen Dela Veyga, Acting Deputy Administrator for Institutional Development Service; and Cristina Marcelino, Manager of Utilities Development Division for Visayas, was appointed.

The mayor said he cannot appoint a new set of directors yet until LWUA is done reviewing his termination order against the members of the MCWD board.

"Only then, when LWUA Manila has decided whether they are for or against the petition for review, then a board will be appointed or the existing board will continue," Labella explained.

To recall, Labella issued notices of termination to the five members of MCWD board of directors on October 15 due to the massive dissatisfaction from consumers. He said that Yu’s resignation has put to rest his membership of the board.

Aside from Pe, the remaining directors who challenged the validity of Labella’s order are Cecilla Jugao- Adlawan, Procopio Fernandez, and Ralph Sevilla. FPL (FREEMAN)