Group backs creation of water body

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Association of Water District (PAWD) has expressed support to a proposed bill allowing the establishment of a Water Regulatory Commission which permits the continuous operation of water districts in the country.

The group said Senate Bill 518, proposed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, is better than the bills privatizing  water districts in the country and establishing a Water and Sanitation Regulatory Authority.

PAWD National president Gilbert Camaligan said the creation of a Water Supply and Sanitation Companies, under the Senate Bill 2997 proposed by Sen. Edgardo Angara and House Bill 5497 by Rep. Romeo Federico Quimbo and Rep. Karlo  Nograles.allowing ownership of the properties of water service providers will not do good to the public as this would result in the loss of jobs for 20,000 employees serving the government for more than three decades now.

The management of water districts is covered by the Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, and Department of Budget and Management and is far from the interference of local governments. It was declared a government owned and controlled corporation by the Supreme Court last Sept. 13, 1991, he said.

Water districts are under the supervision of the Local Water Utilities Administration and its operations are proven to be successful, he added.

Camaligan explained that water districts were established to give service to the public and not as a business to earn.