LWUA receptive to Rama’s plan to create own water district

CEBU, Philippines — As the leadership conflict within the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) remains unresolved, the City government of Cebu has already expressed its intention to have its own water district with the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), who is seemingly open to the idea.

“It’s now being worked out,” said Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama through the City’s News and Information team.

Based on their initial discussions, LWUA expressed no objection to the idea of Cebu City having its own water district.

“I have been discussing it with LWUA people and it (LWUA) seems to be receptive to the idea,” Mayor Rama added.

MCWD is a government-owned and controlled corporation following a Supreme Court ruling in 1992 declaring such.

Aside from Cebu City, MCWD is also catering to other highly-urbanized cities in Cebu and some areas in Cebu Province.

The continuing leadership row in MCWD and the defiance to LWUA’s suspension order of some MCWD officials including its chairman Joey Daluz and its General Manager Edgar Donoso had led mayor Rama to look into putting up its own water district.

Aside from its own water district, the mayor is also looking into its own port authority since they are also at odds with the Cebu Port Authority.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said earlier that he is “serious” about these proposals.

“Serious ko ana. Serious ko anang Cebu Port Authority, serious sad ko anang Cebu City Water District,” Rama told reporters earlier.

“Nganong di man ta kabuhat?” said Rama.

When asked what difference these will make considering that there is already an existing water district and port authority, Rama explained that the city-owned establishments will serve only the city of Cebu while the existing ones will service Metro Cebu.

Meanwhile, Rama asserted that any construction work to be undertaken within the territorial jurisdiction of the city should secure a permit from the Office of the Building Official (OBO).

This as CPA continues to stress its autonomy, thus not needing to get approval from the Cebu City government for works done within the ports. This is allegedly provided in the CPA charter.

Both CPA and the Daluz-led MCWD have the backing of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who stressed that she is only after the general welfare of the Cebuanos.

Today, Mayor Rama is also scheduled to meet Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to discuss and hopefully resolve their issues with CPA.

CPA is an attached agency under DOTr. — (FREEMAN)