News
LWUA intervention in Koronadal WD legal
The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) asserted that its move for temporary full takeover of the management and policy-making functions of the Koronadal Water District (KWD) is both legal and warranted in the interest of restoring order and sanity in the delivery of basic potable water service to the people of Koronadal, South Cotabato which is being hampered by legal controversies involving two sets of local board of directors and managers.

LWUA acting senior deputy administrator Daniel I. Landingin who is also the chairman of the interim board of directors appointed by the agency to take over the policy making functions in the KWD, said that the move is in accordance with LWUA Board Resolution No.1 04, series of 1995 as amended or Policy Guidelines Regarding LWUA Intervention in Water Districts in keeping with the regulatory supervision authority vested upon the agency by Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended.

Landingin said a crisis situation has been obtaining in the water district since early this year when the former board of directors led by Alfredo de la Pena, most of whom have unconfirmed appointments, refused to give way to the new set of directors headed by Engr. Allan Yaphockun which was appointed by the City Mayor and confirmed by the LWUA Board of Trustees as required under PD 198.
He said matter worsened when then KWD general manager Eleanor Gomba in open defiance refused to recognize and follow orders from the Yaphockun-Ied board despite LWUA directives and decision of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC). As a result Gomba was suspended by the new board but has since continued to hold office notwithstanding the subsequent appointment of senior employee Rey Vargas as OIC-General Manager. Gomba with another former director John Nadua have since filed cases in the sala of local RTC judge Oscar Dinopol against the LWUA­confirmed board.

On February 15, 2007, the suspended GM Gomba vacated the KWD office building but with the aid of some supporters forcibly took with her all of the office documents, equipment and vehicle which are all government properties. Her actions effectively and seriously hampered the operations of the water district under the legitimate board and management. The Gomba-De la Pena group went on to hold office in another building and refused to give up control of the water district facilities and monies causing confusion among the concessionaires, Landingin said.

According to Landingin, majority of the concessionaires though are recognizing the legitimacy of the L WUA-confirmed board and the OIC general manager and continued to pay their bills directly to the original KWD office. c