Move to privatize MIWD has ‘blessing’ of top officials
A non-government organization revealed that top officials of Iloilo City are maneuvering to realize the plan to privatize Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) Iloilo, through their sources, confirmed that a meeting transpired between World Bank representatives and the newly-elected Ilonggo officials this month to talk about the MIWD privatization plan.
FDC said, present at the meeting were unnamed World Bank representatives, incoming Iloilo City congressman Jerry Treñas, incoming City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, and Mr. Celso Javelosa, chairman of MIWD’s Board of Directors.
Senator-elect Franklin Drilon, an Ilonggo, was also present in the said meeting.
Two years ago, World Bank’s International Finance Corporation through its consultant Castalia Advisory Group conducted a feasibility study on the proposed privatization of MIWD.
FDC lamented that the newly elected officials are maneuvering to push for the privatization agenda which is vehemently opposed by the Ilonggo public.
“This could partly explain why Mayor Treñas was fuming in anger when the local media sought his opinion on the current conflict besetting MIWD’s board of directors who are Treñas appointees led by Mr. Celso Javelosa and the management and employees of the water district led by its general manager Le Jayme Jalbuena,” FDC observed.
“The privatization deal could also be the reason why both Treñas and Mabilog did not act aggressively in solving the water problem of the city even after the Typhoon Frank in 2008. Moreover, its reluctance to call for a comprehensive investigation of the issues confronting the water district also adds to the suspicion that after all this is a done deal,” FDC added.
The group also noted that the letter of the MIWD Board of Directors appealing to the City Council to declare Iloilo City under a ‘state of emergency’ because of water shortage was part of the grand design to eventually privatize MIWD.
“It was a tactic aimed to short cut the tedious legal procedures and set the stage for the convenient entry of its private sector friends who are interested to engage in the bulk water business,” FDC stressed.
“The Ilonggo water consumers must be vigilant in asserting that water is a human right, as such, MIWD must not be handed over to the few private individuals who are for windfall profits and not for public service,” FDC added.
