MCWD sets the record straight

This pertains to the article in The FREEMAN's March 22, 2009, Sunday issue re "Compostelahanon's long for own water system" by Jose P. Sollano. The Metropolitan Cebu Water District would like to clarify on the following statements:

a) That the MCWD is selling its Compostela production outside of the town.

It is not true that MCWD is selling the water it produced in Compostela outside of the town. Actually, the existing two wells in Compostela which produce less than 1,000 cubic meters per day is solely supplied within the town only. It is impossible for MCWD to sell outside of the locality since its water production is hardly enough to meet the water needs of its present water consumers.

b) That only 10% of the town's population is being served by MCWD.

Agreed. MCWD is aware that about 10% only of the town's total population is being served by the water district. In view of this, it implemented the drilling of 14 wells in their locality sometime in 1992 upon the consent of its municipal council and the then mayor Gilbert Wagas. MCWD obtained a loan from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to finance the said project so that it could answer the water needs of the town and so with other municipalities.

However, as the wells were all set to operate, a change of administration in Compostela town took place and the new mayor refused to issue an electrical permit for MCWD to operate its 14 wells.

Had these 14 wells been operational, it was projected to produce at least 10,000 cubic meters daily. With the volume of water it was supposed to produce, the water district could very well supply ten times or even more than the municipality's water demand. But because of such refusal, the water supply of MCWD in Compostela remains the same until now and the fate of the 14 wells that MCWD drilled that costs P110 million remains idle.

c) As to the non-payment of MCWD to the municipality of Compostela on the water extracted since it begun 30 years ago.

It is not true that MCWD has not paid a single centavo to Compostela town since it begun 30 years ago.

To be exact, it was on July 16, 2007 at the office of the town mayor Ritchie Wagas that MCWD General Manager Armando H. Paredes personally handed over two checks to Mayor Wagas. One check amounted to P240,110.33 representing MCWD's full payment in lieu share; and the other check worth P7,285.55 as payment for revenue share. The said payment was witnessed by MCWD officials/staff and some municipal officials. Since then, MCWD has been regularly paying revenue share to the municipality.

It is hoped that the above-statements have been clarified.

(Sgd.) ARMANDO H. PAREDES

General Manager

Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD)