MIWD assures LGU profit-share if…
Iloilo towns where water is drawn by the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) will get its share of MIWD profits. That is -- if and only if the Commission on Audit (COA) will give its "definitive statement" declaring such as valid and legal.
The profit-share for at least three Iloilo towns has since been an issue hurled at the MIWD beset by the said unresolved legal query.
In fact, a recent World Bank grant for the water district failed to get an approval from the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP), no thanks to the profit-share issue.
The SP body in a Resolution voted against any SP endorsement for the World Bank grant at the same time calling for the water district to pay up the demanded LGU profit share.
In a letter sent to the SP body, Edwin Reyes, MIWD Interim General Manager addressed anew the concern.
Can MIWD validly and legally pay to the Local Government Units (LGUs) where it draws water for distribution to its consumers the one percent (1%) share from the proceeds in the utilization of the national wealth pursuant to Sec. 291 of RA 7160?
"We are only waiting for the reply from the COA so that we can make the necessary action," the letter in response to the question said while stressing, "be assured that we have to comply with the decision.".
And this, with the water district putting on record – "The MIWD has never been remiss in its obligation in the payment of LGU share to concerned municipalities. We, however, have to defer it at the moment pending the legal opinion of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC)."