Rama blames water crisis on MCWD spat

CEBU, Philippines — The water crisis in Cebu City could have been prevented had the management dispute over the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) not happened, said Mayor Michael Rama, emphasizing anew the need for the city to establish its own water district.

In a press conference yesterday, Rama reiterated his plan for the city to establish its own water district. He said the ongoing dispute at the MCWD management has been a contributing factor to the water supply shortage.

“Definitely (the MCWD services are affected). More cooks spoil the broth. One leader being listened to differs,” said Rama.

Rama elaborated that it isn’t imagination that Cebu City must establish its own water district. He added that Cebu City is a highly-urbanized area thus the city carries 70% of MCWD consumers.

“Cebu City is economically, actively, rising,” he said, further enumerating the factors that back up the need for a water district.

When asked if he thought MCWD hasn’t been serving the public anymore, Rama agreed.

“That’s why I want them out, diba? They are already out that’s why I made an appointment,” he said.

Last October Rama ordered the replacement of some of the members of the MCWD board, including the chairman himself, Joey Daluz III, and board members Jodelyn Mae Seno and Miguelito Pato.

As replacement, Rama installed retired general Mel Feliciano as MCWD Board chairman and two others. However, the Daluz-led board questioned the validity of the appointment while the MCWD management declared a status quo.

Last March 15, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) implemented a partial takeover of MCWD to investigate allegations hounding MCWD operations.

Rama said his appointments translate to a supposed focus on MCWD. He added there are interventions being done regarding MCWD which he cannot disclose yet.

In a statement, Daluz said that the real issue behind the ongoing dispute is “undue and unwarranted interference in the MCWD”. He added the water crisis was due to the ill effects of the El Niño.

“He has made known his preference to privatize the district which is the main reason for his actions. The water crisis is brought about by first and foremost the El Niño event but he has exacerbated it by denying the permits for our Lusaran and desalination projects which would have improved the conditions of our supply,” he said yesterday.

Meanwhile, LWUA-appointed MCWD general manager Joselito Tomas Baena also said Rama’s statement is parallel to their call to call to uphold the rule of law and respect for LWUA directives.

“The city mayor who by law is vested with the power to appoint members of the Board of Directors (and by implication and as upheld by the Regional Trial Court, the power to remove), as well as the courts. The continued defiance of the removed directors and the suspended general manager are counter-productive. Instead of helping everyone move forward and look for solutions to the current problem, their attitude of non-cooperation and defiance is proving to be a great roadblock to the detriment of the consumers,” he said.

MCWD spokeswoman Minerva Gerodias said as of May 6 the deficit of MCWD’s water production is at 60,356 cubic meters per day. The total production is now at 240,644 cubic meters per day from 301,000. — (FREEMAN)