Sunday, October 15, 2006
4 Cebu mayors ask guv to assert power on water firm
CEBU CITY -- The water issue is spreading from the supply contract to the appointments of the board of directors in Metro Cebu's water district.
Four mayors, three vice mayors and two councilors from Metro Cebu formally asked Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to exercise her appointing authority in the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).
They said that as head of the local governments within the MCWD franchise area, they also have to be represented in the board.
Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, Compostela Mayor Antonio Dangoy, Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob Sr., Lapu-Lapu City Vice Mayor Norma Patalinghug, Cordova Vice Mayor Danilo Sinugbuhan, Liloan Vice Mayor Merilito Surita, Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Eugene Espedido and Cordova Councilor Greg Jumao-as signed the letter.
"We humbly request the honorable governor to manifest with MCWD in a communiqué that they submit the list of nominees to the board of directors to your office so you can exercise your authority to appoint," the letter stated.
"This will compel MCWD to submit to your office the list of nominees to the board of directors and avoid further confusion within the water district as to whom to officially transmit the list of nominees now that the issues have been raised in public."
The letter cited the Provincial Water Utilities Act, which mentions the schedule in the appointment of members of the board of directors of the MCWD.
On or before Oct. 1, the water district solicits nominations for the board. The nominations are submitted within a month.
On or before Nov. 15, the list of nominees is submitted to the appointing authority.
Appointments will be made on or before Dec. 15.
Ouano, Dangoy, Gungob, Sinugbuhan and other officials have signed a letter endorsing the P2-billion Carmen Bulk Water Supply Project, which the Ayala Corp.-led consortium proposed to MCWD.
The mayors earlier said they want Garcia to appoint members in the MCWD since not all residents within the franchise area of MCWD are served.
At present, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña appoints the members of the board and has appointed its chairman, former Cebu City Administrator Juan Saul Montecillo.
The Carmen water project has been approved by the National Economic and Development Authority but the proponents and MCWD are still grappling over the refund of P156-million project development in case the consortium fails to get the supply contract.
Meanwhile, the investigation on the irregularities allegedly committed by some MCWD officials was referred to the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
In his letter to Ombudman Visayas Officer-in-Charge Virginia Palanca- Santiago, dated Oct. 10, 2006, by the MCWD Board Chairman Juan Saul Montecillo attached the records of their fact-finding investigation and the answers of the MCWD officials.
The MCWD Board composed of Montecillo and Ruben dela Cerna, Cynthia Barrit, Joy Augustos Young and lawyer Rico Tautho as members, converted themselves as a fact finding body to gather additional facts related to the complainant
Mactan Rock Industries president Antonio Tompar, in a letter-complaint addressed to the MCWD Board and dated July 24, 2006, alleged that "scalawags in the management group" want to terminate his contract as bulk water supplier they want to engage in the water business themselves.
However, MCWD General Manager Armando Paredes; Vesmindo M. Santiago, assistant general manager (AGM) for administration; Ernie T. Delco, AGM for operations, Noel R. Dalena, AGM for pipelines maintenance; Michael M. Balazo, AGM for technical services; and May Y. Buendia, OIC-AGM for finance denied Tompar's allegations.
They said the complaint was filed after the management refused to endorse to the MCWD Board Tompar's offer to settle the P14 million as penalty for falling short on deliveries.
Mactan Rock has been supplying water to Mactan island since 1999, after it signed a 10-year contract with MCWD. (AAG/EOB of Sun.Star Cebu)
(October 15, 2006 issue)
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