THE Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) yesterday assured the public that the management team it had assigned to take over the Metro Roxas Water District (MRWD) is performing well to ensure fiscal policies and reforms are institutionalized and the 24-hour availability of safe and potable water in the city.

LWUA Administrator and Acting Board Chair Lorenzo H. Jamora made the assurance to belie published reports that the MRWD is in the verge of collapse. "On the contrary, the interim board of directors and management have made substantial progress in addressing the issues at hand and at the same time improved the financial status and operational system of the Metro Roxas Water District," he added.

Administrator Jamora pointed out that the issues raised in the news report were actually the reasons that prompted the old MRWD board of directors to request for a full LWUA takeover.

MRWD Interim General Manager Pablo Bercilla informed Administrator Jamora that contrary to reports that 75 percent of the water district's 202 employees signed the petition letter sent to the Office of the President, only 42 employees actually affixed their signatures. Two of the signatories were verified to be not MRWD employees.

IGM Bercilla also reported that operations of the MRWD and implementation of on-going projects are proceeding smoothly. "The news reports are nothing but part of a misinformation campaign periodically launched by disgruntled parties," he added.

Jamora also explained that LWUA, under its charter (P.D. 198), has the authority to fully or partially takeover the management of any water district to protect national government investment and public interest.

Jamora disclosed that the agency has formed a fact-finding team to validate the findings of the Commission on Audit on alleged irregular transactions of the previous board and management. The Office of the President has been informed that the result of its investigation will be furnished to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

The LWUA chief said the MRWD is in the process of upgrading and modernizing its water supply system in anticipation of the expected urbanization of Roxas City and nearby towns.
c October 17 , 2006