30 recommended to MCWD board

CEBU, Philippines — New members of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) board will be appointed within the next 30 days to replace all terminated directors after the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) approved of Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella’s termination order.

At least 30 names have been recommended for Labella to choose from. Among the recommendees are former city mayor Alvin Garcia, newspaper columnist Atty. Frank Malilong, and Atty. Manolete Dinsay, a trusted advisor of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

"We will only limit to five. It's good that there are many names," said Labella.

The mayor assured that he will not make any appointment without consultation considering that 75 percent of the MCWD consumers are residents of the city. Labella added that the candidates will be selected based on merits and qualifications.

He said that the next MCWD board must have an administrative ability, must be knowledgeable on the water problem, and must possess the technical knowledge on how to solve the water crisis.

Under the law that created the water district, the city mayor has the authority to appoint or remove the members of the MCWD board.

Labella, on October 15, 2019, issued a termination order against then MCWD board chairman Joel Mari Yu, and  members Procopio “Coping” Fernandez, Augustus “Jun” Pe Jr., Atty. Ralph Sevilla, and Atty. Cecile Adlawan.

The mayor cited widespread consumers’ dissatisfaction on the water district’s service as ground. Yu resigned from his post few days after he was served the termination notice.

The water district is currently governed by an interim board appointed by the LWUA pending the appointment of the new members. (FREEMAN)