Defensor more interested in solution to water woes
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. is not keen on having the power to appoint the directors of the Metro Iloilo Water District despite the Local Water Utilities Administration pronouncement that he is the rightful appointing authority, not Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
“I am not interested in that work. I have more work to handle. It will only breed more problems to me,” Defensor told reporters yesterday.
According to MIWD, LWUA Administrator Daniel Landingin said “Iloilo City was not able to garner more than 75 percent of the total service connections in the district’s area of coverage, and as such, the appointing authority of the expiring (directors) of MIWD shall be the provincial governor.”
Defensor, for his part, said that MIWD has a very serious problem with its service.
“MIWD is one of the worst water districts in the country. It is reeling from the problem of severely inadequate supply of water which makes their consumers suffer,” Defensor said.
He added: “The problem is not so much on who will appoint the Board of Directors, what is more important is how the MIWD officials could find solution to the lingering water problem.”
“The people are not interested in the quarrel between the MIWD management and Board of Directors, they are more interested in seeing an end to the water supply problem,” he said.
Defensor said the issue on the appointing authority should be discussed between the city government, MIWD, and LWUA.
Despite his misgivings, the governor said he is willing “to go out of my way to help find solutions to the MIWD problem because I am also affected since I am a resident of the city.”*MGC
