By Francis Allan L. Angelo
IS there a rift between the management team and the board of directors of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD)?
The conflict between the two sides in the MIWD became obvious after the board filed a case with the Office of the Ombudsman against a department manager of the water firm.
The board claimed that Amaryllis Josephine Castro is guilty of conflict of interest for engaging in bulk water supply in Iloilo City while serving as administrative and finance services head of MIWD.
Castro also sits as chairman of the bids and awards committee of MIWD.
Based on the complaint, Castro’s family owns Nolan Water Ventures which services big hotels and other commercial establishments in Iloilo City.
The board said they have told Castro to stop her business as it runs counter to MIWD’s thrust to provide stable and clean water to its concessionaires.
Aside from Castro, other MIWD employees are believed to be engaged in bulk water supply business and are being blamed for the poor services of the water firm.
In an interview with Serbisyo Publiko hosted by Iloilo City Councilor Perla Zulueta Sunday, Castro denied that her business is in conflict with MIWD’s function to provide water to its more than 31,000 consumers.
Castro said they only operate one water tanker which delivers water to commercial users. She also said private suppliers are allowed to augment water supply if the water district cannot fully service its consumers.
Citing various jurisprudence, Castro said there is no conflict of interest between her position at MIWD and their family business because she has no regulatory powers in the water firm.
The MIWD official said she can only be accused of such act if she issues licenses and permits to water-related industries.
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