Gov. Gwen Garcia, along with Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, joined the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) in commemorating its golden anniversary on the evening of November 20.
The water district is celebrating five decades of service in providing water to Metro Cebu LGUs. It now boasts of assets worth P5.2 billion and a daily production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters of water.
In their speeches, both Gov. Gwen and Mayor Raymond lauded MCWD’s journey and put emphasis on the importance of cooperation between stakeholders.
“Nganong di man ta magtinabangay nga ang atong tumong ug tinguha mao ang pagpanerbisyo og tarong? And in this case, ang paghatag og tubig sa atong mga Sugboanon,” Mayor Garcia said.
“I am very happy that we have already made a lot of achievements and in the past few months that I have been mayor of the City of Cebu, our relationship has become sour to sweet,” the mayor added.
Gov. Gwen also reflected on MCWD’s its partnership with the Capitol, which includes buying 35 million liters of water daily from the Capitol’s joint venture project with another party that collects and treats water from Carmen town’s Luyang River.
The Governor also recalled how the Capitol supported the MCWD leadership during a power struggle earlier this year; as well as their joint effort of desilting the Mananga and Luyang rivers during the El Niño crisis.
“It was my duty to see to it that law and order prevail,” Gov. Gwen said in her speech.
“Labing una ning higayon nga niabot ko dinhi, but I did see how the MCWD premises looked like when it was under sieged. Naa sa pictures, apan pag-abot nako, pagkahamugaway,” she added.
MCWD, established on November 20, 1974, by then Cebu City Mayor Eulogio Borres, has become a vital partner in Cebu’s progress by ensuring access to clean and sustainable water for the metro.
“For the next 50 years, may the flow always be with you,” Gov. Gwen added.
The event was also attended by MCWD Chairperson Engr. Miguelito Pato, General Manager Edgar Donoso, DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David, and other MCWD officials. | BJR