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The Cagayan de Oro Water District’s important provider says it can solely negotiate with the ‘right individuals’ relating to an unresolved debt dispute that triggered a provide disaster and the LWUA takeover
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Sidelined by the Native Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the final supervisor of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) took again management of the water utility agency on Thursday afternoon, July 18.
Engineer Antonio Younger, COWD basic supervisor, additionally ordered the interim officers designated by LWUA to switch him and COWD board members barred from the higher ranges of the water district constructing.
Younger broke his weeks of silence as he reclaimed his workplace from Fermin Jarales, LWUA’s designated COWD interim basic supervisor for six months, amid cheers from water district staff.
He invoked a authorized opinion from the Division of Justice (DOJ) in regards to the LWUA takeover, and the town council’s place in opposition to the LWUA intervention as among the many bases for his resolution to reassume as COWD basic supervisor.
Younger had his workplace, padlocked by Jarales, pressured open whereas his supporters, a lot of whom got here from the employees’ picket traces exterior, cheered.
He mentioned the interim officers would not have entry to the higher flooring of the COWD constructing, and he had the padlock of his workplace modified to stop Jarales from getting into.
“It’s clear that the takeover carried out by the LWUA has no foundation,” Younger instructed Rappler on Friday, July 19.
He cited a letter from the Fee on Audit (COA), which, he mentioned, gave him the arrogance to claim his place.
On June 28, Younger wrote to COA, questioning Jarales’s appointment as a major signatory for voucher disbursements as much as P10 million, which require interim board approval for bigger quantities.
COA responded, citing a memorandum round which supplies that “solely completely appointed officers shall be designated as disbursing officers,” amongst different tips pertaining to money advances.
Rappler sought feedback from Jarales, however he has but to reply as of posting time.
Now what?
In the meantime, Younger mentioned he needed to return to the negotiating desk with Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Integrated (COBI), a bulk water provider managed by enterprise tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, over a nonetheless unresolved debt dispute exceeding P400 million. The company dispute was what triggered a sequence of occasions, together with a short water provide disaster within the metropolis, which led to the LWUA takeover.
For COBI, the interim officers put in by LWUA nonetheless have the authority except they withdraw from the COWD or are eliminated by a courtroom.
Roberto Rodrigo, senior authorized counsel for Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Water, which controls COBI, mentioned they acquired a discover from COWD indicating that each one correspondence from COBI ought to now be addressed to Younger.
Requested if they’d comply, Rodrigo mentioned COBI has no foundation to take action, and the agency’s place has been communicated to the COWD.
“The metropolis council decision they cited is merely a request to the interim board and LWUA to acknowledge the DOJ opinion. It doesn’t revoke the authority of LWUA or the interim board,” Rodrigo instructed Rappler on Friday.
He mentioned COBI would stay open to negotiations, however solely with the “right individuals.”
Earlier than the takeover, COWD and COBI’s dispute was left unresolved regardless of a number of conferences, even with LWUA concerned. This led to a momentary water provide disconnection within the metropolis on Might 14, a disaster that caught the eye of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. He then directed the provincial water districts regulator to contemplate a takeover. – Rappler.com
