Mayor welcomes new MCWD GM

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has welcomed Atty. John DX Lapid as the new general manager of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), stressing the urgent need to address massive water losses and prepare for the looming dry season.

Archival, speaking at a press conference yesterday at City Di Mare in the South Road Properties, said he will meet Lapid and the MCWD Board this week to discuss priority measures.

“They already submitted a program of what they plan to do, but I will ask for a roadmap from GM Lapid. What I want them to address is how MCWD can reduce our non-revenue water. Out of 300,000 cubic meters of water supplied daily, 100,000 cubic meters are wasted. That’s millions of pesos lost,” Archival said.

He also highlighted the need for contingency plans as the dry season approaches.

“Another concern is the shortage of water during the dry spell. We need to prepare equipment for conversion from wetlands to drinking water, just like before,” he said.

Archival added that Lapid must also present a projected financial statement covering operations until December.

Lapid’s appointment comes amid a series of leadership shifts at MCWD. Former general manager Edgar Donoso tendered a courtesy resignation following the installation of new chairman Ruben Almendras, an economist and businessman who previously chaired MCWD from 1993 to 2004 and is regarded as a stabilizing figure.

In the interim, Atty. Jorge Gabriete served as acting general manager before returning to his post as assistant GM with Lapid’s entry.

Lapid is not new to the position. He was briefly appointed acting general manager by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in April 2024 but stepped down after only a few days, citing stress and family concerns amid disputes between LWUA and the MCWD Board.

Prior to that, he served as division manager for customer care at MCWD.

Archival said Lapid’s return is timely as the city needs a proactive individual especially when there’s a lot of work to be done.

While MCWD has yet to issue an official statement confirming Lapid’s appointment, City Hall has made clear its expectations: decisive leadership, financial transparency, and concrete solutions to Cebu’s water challenges.

Meanwhile, MCWD spokeswoman Minerva Gerodias also announced that effective immediately, she will cease to function in that role following the change in management.

Though no formal memo has been issued, she confirmed being verbally informed of the development.

In a message to the media, she expressed gratitude for the professional cooperation over the years and advised that all media-related concerns be directed to the Office of the General Manager.