Davao: It's got a world-class water supply system

Over the recent years, Davao, a major Southern Philippines city, has been gaining international acclaims and recognitions, foremost of which are its distinctions as the largest in terms of land area, one of the most livable and environment-friendly cities and top eco-tourism destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.

But Filipinos elsewhere in the country knew little about one of the recent international awards Davao City that has gained that is about its water supply system, arguably the country's best and one of the better-run in the region and the utility that makes it possible.

The Davao City Water District (DCWD), among the first water districts to be established in the country since the promulgation of PD 198, as amended also known as the Local Water Utilities Act of 1973, ranked number one in the listing of the top 50 water utilities in the Asia-Pacific region in the Asian Development Bank's Second Water Utilities Data Book published in 1997, It shared top ranking with the water utilities of Singapore and Johor Bahru of Malaysia.

According to DCWD public relations officer Editha Monje, who is also vice-president for Mindanao of the National Association of Water District PROs ( NAWD-PRO), Davao City Water District also ranked fourth among water utilities in the Asia-Pacific region with the most successful effort in reducing so-called non-revenue water (NRW). NRW is that part of the water production of a water utility which is lost to leaks and/or pilferage, the bane of many water systems in the region and world-wide.

The DCWD, which is considered the biggest water district in the country with a consumer base of more than 130,000 active domestic, commercial and industrial connections, has also been a consistent recipient of the most outstanding water district award in the very large WD category given annually by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). It has also been previously cited by the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD), the Davao City legislative council, the Philippine Quality and Productivity Movement, Inc. and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board as one of the most outstanding establishments in the City of Davao.

The DCWD indeed has gone a long way since the establishment of the first waterworks system in Davao City in 1921. Called the Sales Waterworks System, it tapped the Malagos Creek to serve about 10,000 consumers. As the population of the city grew, studies and improvement were made and in 1968, the water system was placed under the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) that started the construction of better facilities.

Ironically, with the demise of the NAWASA in the early 70s, demands for potable water increased tremendously with the growth of the population and commercial and industrial establishments in the city. With no other viable recourse, the Davao City government turned to LWUA for assistance and the Davao City Water District was duly established on February 13, 1974.

Like other water districts that has been established during the period, DCWD operated as a quasi-public corporation, private in character but imbued with public service responsibilities. Until 1992 when the Supreme Court ruled with finality that all water districts in the country, DCWD included, are government-owned and controlled corporations.

Since its creation in 1973, the DCWD, under various board and management leaderships and with the financial, technical and institutional development assistance of LWUA, has undertaken a number of water supply system rehabilitation, improvement and expansion projects to cope with the city's water demand.

Monje said that DCWD in the process of improving and operating the city water supply system has served as a model for other water districts in the country in the aspect of customer relations and customer service, always going the extra mile to respond satisfactorily to the various needs and complaints of its concessionaires whoever and wherever they may be.

Through the years, Monje added, DCWD has continuously widened its horizons beyond provision of water supply to city residents. She said DCWD actively networks with various other government agencies, the private sector and NGOs based in the city and the region for water and environmental preservation concerns. The water district also initiated scholarship and outreach programs that benefits the less privileged segment of the city populace. Significantly, the DCWD serves as godfather to other water utilities in and at times even beyond the Central and Southern Mindanao regions.
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