Councilors assail WB-Castalia report
Most members of the Iloilo City council are not impressed with the Castalia Report on the water problems of the city and its accompanying solutions.
The study, funded by the World Bank and conducted middle of March until October 2009, covers diagnosis of problems, options for reform and recommendations that will significantly solve the problems on potable and safe water for city residents and the rest of Metro Iloilo Water District franchised areas.
Councilor Perla Zulueta, chairperson of the committees on appropriations and ways and means, said however, the report was “clear as mud” because it did not present clear solutions to the long-running water crisis.
Councilor Plaridel Nava said the report was “murky” that would only provide benefits to one sector of the water district and not to the water needs of the people.
Zulueta also lambasted the Castalia Report for being confidential in nature and does not serve the best interest of water consumers.
Each page of the report was marked “Confidential” when public interest so dictates to let the people know what affects and involves them, she said.
The report has also no clear mechanism for water consumers to voice out their concerns, Zulueta said.
Nava said Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has compelled both the MIWD management and board to go public with the report in order to know public sentiments about it.
Stakeholders from the local business sector, academe, church, media, non-government organizations and local city officials and members of the city council attended the public presentation of the report.
A team from Castalia Strategic Advisors, headed by Castalia managing director Alfonso Guzman, presented and defended the report that drew mixed reactions even from employees of MIWD.
The report concluded that MIWD was not providing value for money to its paying customers or the citizens of Metro Iloilo.
The MIWD Board had initiated a process to examine various options for improving performance and after technical, financial, economic governance, management and legal.*PNA
