Maamo named MCWD director

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia has finally signed the appointment of Dr. Marlo Pil Maamo as member of the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) Board of Directors.

Earlier, Maamo was also named health consultant to Garcia in September this year. He was supposed to run as city councilor under Garcia’s ticket but was instead offered a seat in the MCWD Board.

Garcia announced yesterday during a press conference at City Hall the formal appointment of Maamo. He will replace Atty. Danilo V. Ortiz as representative of the Civic Sector.

The MCWD Board on December 21, 2023 passed a resolution declaring two seats of the five seats in the board as vacant and opened the solicitation of nominees coming from the civic and education sectors.

The Office of the City Mayor on July 22, 2024 concurred to the declaration of vacancies of the two seats in the MCWD Board. Solicitation letters were then sent out to the particular sectors.

Several names were endorsed to the office of the mayor for appointment from the education sector except nominees from the civic sector prompting Garcia to appoint Maamo.

“Until today, the MCWD Board and/or its Secretariat did not transmit or submit to the Office of the Cebu City Mayor any nominees for the civic sector,” read part of the appointment paper.

As more than 60 days had lapsed from the date of occurrence of the vacancy in the civic sector as per MCWD Board Resolution No. 12-301-2023 and no list of nominees was submitted to the appointing authority, Garcia stressed that under Section 9 of Presidential Decree No. 198 the appointing authority will appoint any qualified person of the category to the vacant position.

The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Memorandum Circular No. 005-16 also does not require any confirmation of vacancy before the appointing authority can make the appointment.

In a separate letter to MCWD General Manager Engr. Edgar Donoso obtained by The Freeman, Garcia spoke highly of Maamo.

"Dr. Maamo's appointment reflects his exemplary qualifications, prove leadership, and commitment to the development and welfare of the community. With extensive experience in non-profit, voluntary and humanitarian groups, charities, and foundations significantly contributing to community development, I am confident that Dr. Maamo will contribute significantly to achieving MCWD's goals and objectives,” wrote Garcia.

Garcia also hopes that Maamo’s presence will contribute well to MCWD's mission of delivering sustainable and reliable water services to the people of Cebu. — (FREEMAN)