MIWD seeks SP nod of over P6-M WB grant
They do not want to be held "hostage" over the issue yet for the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD), it would be make or break come Tuesday.
'Make' if the prerequisite endorsement sought from the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) is granted. 'Break' if the SP stance goes otherwise.
At the heart of the subject is the World Bank grant of US $150,000 for the consultancy work needed by the MIWD. The water district is two endorsements closer following the easy "yes" from the Iloilo City Government and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)'s Infrastructure Committee.
Last must-have prerequisite is a similar legislative nod from the Capitol. No other alternatives are acceptable with the World Bank.
Yesterday was the final chance for the MIWD to argue its case alongside the sentiments of the Municipality of Maasin on yet another MIWD concern.
For years now the water district and the Maasin Municipal Government has been at legal odds over the supposed extraction fees due to the town. The opportunity to grill them anew came after the request for endorsement sought in the SP.
Chaired by Second District Board Member June Mondejar, the SP Committee on Infrastructure concluded its committee hearing on the subject. Primary concerns as indeed raised were the purported millions in 'unpaid' extraction fee.
With the legal opinion of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel as reference, MIWD was confronted anew by representatives of the Maasin Municipal Government.
Third District Board Member Mariano Malones, former Maasin Mayor was among the leading probers.
"I am still not satisfied with their explanation," Board Member Malones said in a The News Today (TNT) interview.
Yet it would be resolved in a week, Board Member Mondejar assured saying "we are ready to report Tuesday."
One of those established by the committee was a commitment from the MIWD to pay up the demanded extraction fees from various Iloilo towns. The district will pay up once a go-signal is granted from the Commission on Audit (COA) on the query sought if payment is within the bounds of law.
MIWD lawyer Norberto Posecion in an interview told Capitol reporters that all arguments were duly presented to the committee.
"The grant is very important for us in order to improve our operations. MIWD has no money for this," Posecion stressed while adding that he is confident of SP nod. "And let it be clarified that not a single centavo will go to the MIWD. The grant is for the consultants so a feasibility study may be done."
Also present in yesterday's hearing was Fourth District Board Member George Demaisip, Jonas Torres, representative of the First District Board Member Richard Garin.