Strange but true, the water district of Cagayan de Oro City holds the distinction not only of being the first to be established in the county but also of coming into existence ahead of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the national government agency created to minister to the development needs of all water districts thirty years ago.

The Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD) celebrated its 30th year last August 1, 2003 while LWUA will only be marking its pearl anniversary this coming September 18, 2003. This means that COWD antedated LWUA by almost two months.

Significantly, the COWD has gone a long way since it was first established, metamorphosing a once decrepit waterworks into a multi-awarded water utility which is definitely among the best, modern and progressive water districts in the country today.

A few months after the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 198 or the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973 providing for the creation of water districts in the provincial urban centers of population in the Philippines, then City Mayor Reuben R. Canoy took the initiative with the City Council to establish a water district in Cagayan de Oro City on August 1, 1973, the first on record to be formed. It was however only on January 4 of the following year that COWD was given the Conditional Certificate of Conformance by LWUA qualifying the water district to avail of the former's financial, institutional and technical assistance.

COWD took over the local water system of the National Waterworks and Sewerage Agency or NAWASA, which was then the government agency tasked with water services. The water district inherited a system that produced only 12,200 cubic meters of water a day. Majority of the residents of the city did not have water on their taps and those who did had water only for a few hours daily. Concessionaires with metered connections numbered only 2,000 more or less and the pipeline network totaled merely 39 kilometers.

But COWD under the pioneering leadership of its first and longest serving general manager, Engr. Ernesto San Juan, made good of what was available. San Juan would later on become one of the founding fathers and presidents of the Philippine Association of Water Districts ( PAWD), the national umbrella organization which now boasts of the membership of more than 500 water districts nationwide with a total consumer base of around 12 million.

In 1974, COWD obtained a loan package from LWUA for its Phase I expansion project amounting to P30.5 Million. Included in the package for the expansion was the construction of what is now the COWD administration building along Corrales Avenue and the repair and maintenance of another building at Bgy Kauswagan.

But the main components of the expansion program for the improvement of the water system were the drilling of production wells in Bgy Macasandig and Bgy Bugo. Test wells were also drilled in Bgys. Balulang and Bugo for development later as production wells for future expansion program. . A total of 71,536 linear meters of transmission/distribution were installed in many parts of the City as part of the project. The package also included the construction of two concrete reservoirs each with a capacity of 5,305 cubic meters in Bgys Camaman-an and Carmen. With these improvement and expansion of the system, there followed a tremendous yearly increase in concessionaires with the water district such as: 1976, 3,517; 1977, 4,507; 1978, 6,627; 1979, 9,864; and 1980, 13,479.

The Phase II is the part of the expansion program undertaken by the COWD together with LWUA with a loan package of P100 Million for new water facilities and pipe laying. It consisted of the construction of one 2,900 cubic meter capacity concrete reservoir at Bgy Balua and another building in Bgy Macasandig housing the COWD Operations Department Office together with the laboratory facilities for water testing.

The most significant aspect of this expansion project was the number of production wells that were drilled to boost the water supply in Cagayan de Oro City together with, of course, the corresponding pipes that were laid. There were a total of 12 wells that were completed for this Phase only. Drilling was made and completed in the four barangays in the city. The expansion of the system itself was well received by the poulace because Cagayan de Oro at this time was turning into a very progressive city. At the end of the period for the Phase II expansion program, when most, if not all, of the projects were in place, the number of metered connections jumped to a total of 46,232.

It is worth noting too that it was at this point in the existence of COWD that it reaped awards given by LWUA which include: Best Operational Performance, 1981; Second Most Outstanding "Veteran" Water District, 1982; Most Outstanding Veteran Water District (2nd place), 1983; Most Commendable PR Efforts, 1984; Godfather Water District, 1984; Most Outstanding Veteran District (3rd place), 1984; Godfather Water District, 1985; Most Outstanding Water District, 1985; Godfather Water District, 1986; Most Outstanding Water District (1st place, large category), 1986; Most Outstanding Water District (1st place, large category), 1987; Most Outstanding Water District, 1988; Best In Operational Practice, 1988; Godfather Water District of Area VI, 1989; and Hall of Fame, 1990.

Now under the leadership of general manager Gaspar Gonzales, COWD's most recent expansion program for the Cagayan de Oro City water system is the so-called Phase lll project. It started in 1998 and is ongoing as of this writing. Of the total project cost of P500 Million, loan released from LWUA totaled to P300.9 Million as of the middle of 2003.

Targeted for pipe laying in this phase of the expansion would reach a total of 54,324 linear meters of various sizes of pipes both distribution and transmission lines. The areas for pipe laying would be within the barangays in the City. These pipes are to be put in place to supplement the already existing pipes in anticipation for the increase of the water supply in the system. Three production wells are to be added in the system. This would be located in Bgys Agusan and Tablon. These barangays are 11 to 12 kilometers east of the city. All of these production wells are to be fitted with a chlorination system, pumps and generator sets. Three booster pumping stations would also be part of the program. One will be put in place near the existing booster pumping station Bgy Macasandig, another in Balonguis and the third will be in Bugo. This will also supplement the overall facilities in the Operations Department.

As the main operation of the water district is located in Macasandig, the Phase III program would include the putting up of a generator sets in that location. This would ensure that the facilities would still run even when there is absence of electricity. Barangay Tablon would host a 2,100 cubic meter reinforced concrete reservoir still as part of the infrastructure of the Phase III program.

These program and expansions were made and being undertaken by the Cagayan de Oro City Water District in partnership with the LWUA so that water, which is an essential part of life, can reach the taps of all if not majority of the people in the service area to include the nearby municipality of Opol.

The convenience derived out of a very efficient system is the utmost concern of the COWD as provided for in its the mission statement: "Our reason for being is to provide good water service to our customers 24 hours a day. Our commitment is to serve the City of Cagayan de Oro and other neighboring communities that may desire our services. We will uphold the welfare of our customers and protect our environment. We shall, at all times, conduct ourselves as public servants, upholding the tenets of professionalism, morality and honesty."

RP's pioneering water district has indeed come a long way and without doubt it will register more mileage in terms of accomplishments, achievements and honors for itself and the pride and glory of the city and its populace in the years to come.