MIWD privatization link is hogwash: Drilon
Senator Franklin Drilon has dismissed as hogwash reports that he is pushing for the privatization of the Metro Iloilo Water District.
“I do not know what privatization they are talking about. I was deeply concerned about the inefficiency of water service in Iloilo City,” he said.
The Ilonggo senator said that he brought millions of pesos projects to Iloilo city and province, but he never gained any profit from these projects.
“No one can take it (away) and I never profited from those projects,” he added.
Drilon said that months ago, he actually asked Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Rep. Jerry Treñas to give him a briefing about the local water situation and he was informed then that the pipes used by the MIWD were still the ones from the 1920’s.
“Imagine how inadequate their service is,” he said.
Drilon said that he will look into the issue and see what kind of correction he can make to provide better water service in the city.
“I will help solve the problem,” he assured the Ilonggos.
Drilon said he is planning to conduct a Senate inquiry on the controversies that led to the poor performance of the MIWD.
In a recent radio interview, Drilon said he will examine the documents of MIWD, including their proposed budget for the year.
Drilon said he has also received reports that some MIWD employees are engaged in water delivery business which is a conflict with the interest and function of the water district.
This could also be the reason why the recent MIWD performance record showed that only 20 percent of the city population has intermittent access to the pipe-in water service while the rest of the population has no water supply, he added.
MIWD is one of the oldest water districts with its water pipes connected from the city up to the Tigum River in Maasin, Iloilo. It is serving the water needs of more than 700,000 population in its service area, including Illoilo City, and the municipalities of Maasin, Cabatuan, Sta Barbara, Pavia, San Miquel, Oton and Leganes.
