In liloan town: Frasco discovers 4 of 17 MCWD wells damaged

CEBU, Philippines — At least four of the 17 water wells operated by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District in the municipality of Liloan are already dilapidated, two of which are beyond repair due to saltwater intrusion.

This was found out by Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco during a surprise inspection on the wells and reservoir of MCWD in her town. The water district gets at least 15 million liters per day from Liloan to supply to Metro Cebu.

“I met Liloanons living beside the wells, and yet, ironically, do not have direct access to water in their homes from MCWD. This, in addition to the multitude of complaints I have received from Liloan residents who suffer from constant water interruption and shortage,” posted Frasco on her Facebook.

Along with the rest of Cebu, Frasco said Liloan now finds itself in the grip of a water crisis.

“It is unbearable and unjust to see people suffer from the scarcity of something so basic and fundamental as water. We must hold to account those who have known about this impending water crisis but have done so little to avert it, while profiting greatly in the process,” she said.

At the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) meeting, MCWD reported that it had known about the impending shortage of water as far back as 15 years ago.

“Yet here we are, in the midst of this crisis, with MCWD offering no clear immediate solution to resolve it, passing on the burden to local government units such as Liloan to continue to give up our water to MCWD without even ensuring that our own people are served,” said Frasco who got shocked of the report.

According to MCWD’s published Annual Report in 2016, MCWD reported revenues of over P1.7 billion. Of this, they only invested P160 million back into the water systems of Cebu.

“Why has MCWD given back so little to the public that has enriched MCWD by so much?” Frasco asked.

In 1992, MCWD entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Municipal Government of Liloan to extract water from a total of 17 wells. Since MCWD would profit from getting Liloan’s water to supply Cebu, MCWD promised uninterrupted 24/7 priority water supply to residents of Liloan, and to provide water systems in the mountain barangays, among other things.

Frasco said that nearly 30 years after the MOA was signed, two of their wells will never again be able to provide potable water as they have been irreparably damaged and Liloan remains uncompensated.

She said no water systems have been set up by MCWD in the mountains, constraining the LGU to undertake construction themselves.

“Our people literally thirst for the water MCWD takes from them, giving little or nothing back in return,” said Frasco.

"While we have always willingly shared our water with the rest of Metro Cebu and are very much willing to continue to do so, MCWD has sadly failed to ensure that Liloan does not lack for water. The sorry state of the wells they operate in Liloan and the very poor quality of service reflect the lack or absence of care for our people,” added Frasco.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Liloan already passed a resolution expressing its extreme dissatisfaction and frustration over the services of MCWD, thereby authorizing Frasco to terminate Liloan’s MOA with them.

“As Mayor of Liloan, I will do my duty to protect the general welfare of all Liloanons. As a Cebuano, I will seek answers and accountability from MCWD and demand from them what is right and just for Cebu,” Frasco further said. — FPL (FREEMAN)