MIWD should involve Capitol in decision-making–Defensor
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said he believes that the provincial government should be involved in the affairs of the Metro Iloilo Water District, but he is questioning why the MIWD thought of involving the Capitol only now.
Defensor said the MIWD should have done this long before because it sources water supply outside Iloilo City, particularly from the towns of Pavia, Oton, San Miguel, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan and Maasin.
“They get water from the province but we are not part of the management or decision-making. They just ignored the provincial government,” the governor said.
Defensor said he is not asking the MIWD management and board, the Iloilo City government, Local Water Utilities Administration, and even the national government to immediately act or decide on this matter.
He, however, suggested to them to “revisit” the governance of the present management.
“It is not fair that the province is out of the picture,” he said.
The governor said in case some towns will not allow MIWD to source water from them, its management cannot do anything about it.
“They should not dictate the towns to comply,” he said.
Defensor said that last year, then Iloilo City Major Jerry Treñas allocated P1 million for the rehabilitation of the Maasin water dam, but the town has not received any assistance after that.
For now, Defensor said he is waiting for the final decision of the court on who will be the appointing authority of the MIWD Board – either him or Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
“I don’t want to add fire to the issue. I will wait for the court to decide. If they authorize me, I will not turn my back on it. I will exercise my responsibility,” he said.
LWUA had earlier declared that because “Iloilo City was not able to garner more than 75 percent of the total service connections in the district’s area of coverage, the appointing authority of the expiring (directors) of MIWD shall be the provincial governor.”
Mabilog, however, said it is the city government that has jurisdiction over the MIWD and he is authorized to appoint the directors.*
