CEBU CITY - In response to escalating water supply concerns amplified by the El Niño phenomenon, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has officially commenced its intervention in the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD). This strategic move aims to rectify the significant water losses reported in recent years and ensure sustainable water management.
According to Philippines News Agency, the decision for LWUA to take control is pivotal in addressing the cumulative water losses experienced by MCWD, which have shown an upward trend from 2020 to 2022. The intervention aligns with directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to combat the adverse effects of El Niño and enhance service delivery across MCWD's extensive jurisdiction, which includes four highly urbanized cities and four municipalities.
Ong attributed the water district's losses primarily to non-revenue water, pinpointing aged infrastructure, operational inefficiencies, and the necessity for system upgrades as key contributing factors. The intervention commenced on Friday, with LWUA set to scrutinize three MCWD projects, collectively valued at PHP 235 million, previously flagged by the Commission on Audit for procurement irregularities.
Furthering this initiative, LWUA's Board of Trustees, under Ong's leadership, has enacted Board Resolution No. 35, sanctioning the organization's six-month partial intervention in MCWD. This includes instituting a new Interim Board of Directors, led by newly appointed administrator Jose Moises Salonga, to steer the district towards operational optimization and resilience against the ongoing El Niño challenges.