Petilla, speaking to
reporters on Thursday, said they will exhaust all legal means to retake control
of the LMWD management “claimed” by the board of directors appointed by Mayor
Cristina Romualdez.
“We want to resolve
the issue without resorting to violence and prevent water service interruption.
We are ready to bring the case to higher courts if the decision of the local
court would be unfair,” Petilla said.
As of Friday, both
camps are still waiting for the decision of the Regional Trial Court here on
which among the two local government units has the authority to appoint
officers of LMWD’s governing board.
Petilla said the
court decision is a key to end the power struggle that stopped water bill
payments in local government units (LGUs), padlocked a payment center at the
city’s downtown area, and confused thousands of water concessionaires in the
regional capital and the neighboring seven towns.
“Everybody is
careful, even Malacañang since there is no court decision. We are trying do
something within the bounds of law and not act forcibly. If there’s court
decision, everybody should comply,” the governor said.
Petilla was referring
to the statement of Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns Wendel Avisado on
Monday when he told LMWD employees that Malacañang Palace will not intervene in
the ongoing leadership woes.
Avisado said it is
not the job of President Rodrigo Duterte to decide who among the LGUs have the
legal mandate to appoint the governing board of the water district.
The Chief Executive
has no details about the issue that may affect the water district’s nearly
34,000 water consumers in the city and nearby seven towns, Avisado said.
However, in a
statement issued Monday by Romualdez, she admitted that the city government
expressed its intent to take over the LMWD management with the failure of
provincial government-appointed officials to address the water shortage problem
in the city, including in resettlement sites.
“By reason of
predicaments of my constituents, we implored the authority of President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte who then referred the matter to LWUA (Local Water Utilities
Administration) to possibly assume management, administration, and policy
decision powers over LMWD for the latter’s alleged failure to provide adequate
water,” Romualdez said.
Petilla denied that
there water district deprives the city of reliable water services. He explained
that there are instances when water flow is controlled to prevent water wastage
due to aged old pipes.
“We cannot afford a
crisis in Tacloban. If we will reduce the supply in the city, it will affect
Leyte province and even the entire region since it is center of commerce. It is
our duty to protect the city from any crisis because it will affect everyone,”
the governor added.
The standoff began on
January 17 when the new set of board of directors appointed by Romualdez
entered the LMWD office, saying they had the right to govern the office.
Majority of LMWD’s 500 employees, including general manager Pastor Homeres,
withdrew their support from the officials backed by the governor and recognized
the authority of the new officers to rule the water district.
Since then, the board
of directors appointed by Petilla had been prevented from entering the premises
of the water district.
The provincial
government-backed officials and 22 employees have set up a temporary office at
the Leyte Academic Center and appointed Adlofo Olaya, a retired police officer
as new manager. (SQM/PNA)
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