Guv urges revisit of MIWD’s coexistence

By Tara Yap

ILOILO Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. is urging all stakeholders to revisit the co-existence of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) in both the city and province of Iloilo.

“It is not fair that the province is out of the picture,” Defensor expressed.

This is amidst the ongoing conflict at the MIWD wherein an interim board of directors was installed earlier this week through the intervention of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

Defensor clarified he will not comment unless the court decides on whether he or Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has the legal authority to appoint MIWD board based on Presidential Decree 198.

Instead, the governor stressed that MIWD, LWUA and the city government must not exclude the province at all.

“MIWD is part of the province,” Defensor said.

Defensor explained the non-inclusion of the province is unjust in terms of policy-making since the MIWD obtains majority of its water from the Tigum River in Maasin town, which is almost 30 km from the city. MIWD also sources out water from pumping stations in the towns of Pavia, San Miguel and Oton.

“What if Maasin won’t supply MIWD with water? What can it do? The city won’t have any water,” Defensor pointed out.

Defensor also cautioned that it is not only city residents who are affected but also consumers in towns of Pavia, Cabatuan, Maasin, San Miguel, and Oton

Defensor urged the MIWD management, MIWD interim board of directors, the old MIWD board, the city government, the provincial government, and LWUA to have a dialogue.

“I’m not expecting the management, the board, the city, and LWUA to decide on this now… (but) this needs to be addressed,” Defensor said.