MANILA, Philippines - The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) recently commended the officers and staff of the water districts of Hagonoy and Calumpit in Bulacan and Masantol in Pampanga for their “heroic” efforts to continue and sustain their water service operations and supply and residents with safe drinking water at the height of the massive and wide-spread flooding caused by typhoons Pedring and Quiel that started last week of September and lasted for more than two weeks. LWUA acting board chairman Rene C. Villa and acting administrator Salvador C. Ner said the relentless efforts of the officers and employees of the three water districts to keep their systems running and keep the water flowing complemented the relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts of the local government authorities which prevented the disaster from turning potentially into a worst humanitarian crisis last seen during the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy two years ago. Villa and Ner praised the officers and employees of the three water districts whose service jurisdictions were severely hit by the flooding, for unselfishly performing their duties and even getting out of their usual work to keep a vital utility service going despite the fact that their own families and homes were also adversely affected by the flood, the lack of electricity and the shortage of food and other basic necessities.