The Provincial Government has acted as “broker of peace” in an ongoing leadership issue hounding the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) in order that the water distributor’s services remain unhampered.
LWUA chairman Ronnie Ong and LWUA administrator Jose Moises Salonga; as well as MCWD chairman Joey Daluz III and MCWD general manager Edgar Donoso met with Gov. Gwen Garcia at the Capitol on Thursday, March 21, for the governor’s inputs on the issue.
“It’s good to come together and talk and look for a win-win solution for the benefit of Cebuanos,” Gov. Gwen Garcia said in a press briefing after their meeting.
LWUA earlier insisted on its power to implement a partial intervention at the MCWD for a period of six months for the purpose of investigating issues surrounding the water district, especially on the COA findings on its non-revenue water (NRW) which has incurred a loss of at least P120 million last year, according to Salonga.
Daluz initially said he would abide by the LWUA’s order, but has since said he would continue to function as MCWD chair pending the resolution on the legality of LWUA’s “takeover”.
“We have both agreed that we will wait for the OGCC opinion with regard to our interim board,” Ong said during the briefing at the Capitol.
The OGCC or the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel acts as the corporate counsel of both LWUA and MCWD.
“But in the meantime, MCWD will also respect the interim board and will give us access to their documentation. For now, we will wait for the OGCC opinion, and once it comes out, we will both respect whatever the opinion is,” Ong added.
Gov. Garcia's intervention was timely as MCWD not only serves the tri-cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue, but also Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Cordova — with the last five falling within the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu Province. | Carlo Lorenciana