MIWD manager: We distribute quality water
The management of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) has countered the claim of its Board of Directors and has even called for their resignation.
In a press conference at the MIWD office last Wednesday, general manager Le Jayme Jalbuena clarified that the water district is distributing quality water supply to the consumers contrary to claims of the Board.
Just recently, the Board sent a letter to outgoing city mayor and congressman-elect Jerry Treñas asking him to declare the areas covered by the MIWD under a “state of emergency” in order to fast tract the immediate restoration of some vital public services and facilities.
The letter stated that the MIWD performance is poor and have poor water quality that causes illnesses.
Starting last week, all MIWD employees wore black ribbons to show their opposition to the Board.
“Indi ina matuod ang allegation nga mahigku ang tubig naton because members of the Board are also using our water,” he quipped.
In fact, he said they have tested a total of 784 water samples for bacteriological analysis, and out of these, it was found out that only a total of 13 samples were found to be positive which accounts for only 1.74 percent and not 36 percent as claimed by the Board.
Jalbuena added that last year, a total of 467 samples were analyzed and none of these samples were found to be positive of any contamination.
The general manager also said that last month, 187 water samples were analyzed and again, none of these were found positive for bacteria.
“This is in one way of saying that we meet the bacteriological standards,” he quipped.
On the other hand, the MIWD recalled the violations made by the Board. The MIWD believed that the Board went beyond their functions as policy-makers as stated in Title II Chapter V of the Presidential Decree (PD) 198.
Jalbuena said that as what they experienced in the preceding months, the Board encroached in the detailed management functions of MIWD such as acts of administration which customarily rests on management discretion, budgeting hiring of non-supervisory personnel, and other routine functions are superseded by the Board.
The general manager added that the Board no longer serves the interests of the district particularly the lack of response on requests which need their immediate action, unnecessary delay of approval of projects vital to the sustenance of the district.
Jalbuena also said that the Board has been unmindful on management’s appeal to tap possible water sources, such as groundwater, by drilling wells in Oton and San Miguel, abused its power by interfering in the regular and detailed operations of the district, pegged a uniform approved budget for the contract per cubic meter to P15.00 instead of the proposed P9.00 – P12.00, and also the Board without due consultation slashed the operating budget by almost 28 percent placing in jeopardy the operational effectiveness of the water district and has manually inserted P7.5 million in the budget for the payment of the feasibility study to be conducted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for privatization without public bidding.
Jalbuena hopes that their call to change all members of the Board of Directors will be granted after newly-elected city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog officially assumes office next month.
