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Editorial |
February-March 2002 |
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In
October 31, 1975, the then Municipal Council of Vigan, by virtue of P.D.
198 otherwise known as the Local Water Utilities Act of 1973, passed
Resolution No. 31-A approving the creation of the Vigan-Bantay Water
District and authorized the transfer of all existing water facilities of
the old municipal owned Singson Water Works and Sewerage System
including the Caniao and Burayoc Springs, turbine pumps, submersible
electric pumps and other assets to said Vigan-Bantay Water District, all
in the interest of providing “the much needed safe, sufficient
and potable water supply” for the residents of Vigan and
Bantay. Over
the years, the service coverage of the Vigan-Bantay Water District was
expanded by the district’s Board Resolution No. 0041 of 1979 to what
is now the Vigan Metro Water District by assimilating the municipalities
of Caoayan, Sta. Catalina and San Vicente in violation of P.D. 198.
Assimilation of the 3 additional municipalities was done primarily to
justify the acquisition of substantial loans for the expansion of the
water distribution system to these municipalities not included in
Resolution No. 31-A of 1975. The
expansion was undertaken by the Water District despite that fact that
water subscribers in Vigan and Bantay are presently experiencing
waterless hours in a day indicating that the existing water pressure is
not even enough to support the demand of the present subscribers not to
mention the expected increase in demand for the expansion of the
original area of coverage. Worse, the amortization for the expansion
loans from the Local Water Utility Administration is creating an
unabated increase of water rates borne by water subscribers in Vigan and
Bantay. The
recent 13% across the board increase in water rates which took effect on
January 2002 without benefit of a public hearing violates Sec, 63 of the
Provincial Water Utilities Administration Law that requires the conduct
of a public hearing prior to the imposition of increases in water rates
and is therefore a strong indication of misfeasance in the water
district’s Board of Directors. This underscores the need to re-examine
the membership of the policy making body to ensure proper representation
of the various sectors: 1) Civic Oriented Organizations; 2) Religious
and Educational Institutions; 3) Commercial, Financial and Business
organizations; 4) Professional Organizations and 5) Women’s
Organizations as prescribed by P. D. 198 or the Water Utilities Act of
1973. The process of nomination of the sectoral representatives from the
various sectors has never been followed because no notices were given by
the Secretary of the Board to the Local NGO’s when a vacancy occur due
to the expiration of the terms of members. A Board of
Directors composed of duly nominated representatives from a
cross-section of the community as prescribed in P.D. 198, promotes
transparency in the efficient operation of the district and is our only
guarantee that the interest of the water consuming public is protected
through a community controlled Vigan Metro Water District. /TFlorentino
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