Speaking during the recent Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) National Convention in Iloilo City, Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Administrator Jeci Lapus urged Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III to respect the initial makeup of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) board of directors.

Last December, Espinosa terminated the five members of the MIWD board, following a Supreme Court en banc decision that found Section 3(b) of Presidential Decree 198, or the Provincial Water Utilities Act, which determines appointment powers over the local water district, unconstitutional.

Among those given the boot were MIWD chair, Dr. Ted Robles; Atty. Juanito Acanto, Sr.; Dr. Jessica Salas; Josephine Abad-Caram; and Ramon Cua-Locsin; all appointed by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr.

Lapus suggested the mayor wait for their terms to expire, noting, that is the direction the Cebu City government has taken, who initiated the Supreme Court en banc decision.

However, only Abad-Caram’s term is set to expire this year./WDJ