IT IS business as usual for the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) Wednesday, October 16, 2019, despite the serving of orders of termination against its Board of Directors by Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella.
In a statement, MCWD assured its clients that it "continues to do its best to serve the need of its consumers especially those affected by the water supply shortage."
MCWD also clarified that its five-member BOD does not have any executive powers and is merely a "policy-making body of water districts" by virtue of Presidential Decree 198, the law creating water districts in the country.
They set the direction for major programs like expansion, sourcing and policies but are not part of the day-to-day operations of a water district, MCWD added.
On Tuesday, October 15, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella issued notices of termination against MCWD chairman Joel Mari Yu, vice chairman and lawyer Ralph Sevilla, former city councilors Augustus "Jun" Pe Jr. and Procopio "Coping" Fernandez; and board secretary Cecilia Adlawan for their failure to address the water crisis in Cebu.
Except for Fernandez, all the others were appointed by Tomas Osmeña in 2016 or 2018 when he was still mayor. (JKV/PR)