MCWD Board finally complete

Local

AFTER months of stalled decisions and an incomplete leadership body, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is once again set to function as a full governing board following the appointment of a new professional sector representative.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has appointed Atty. Mariefel Resma Roble to the MCWD Board of Directors, filling a vacancy that had contributed to the utility’s inability to act on urgent matters affecting Metro Cebu’s water supply.

The appointment, dated Jan. 12, 2026, came after MCWD failed to initiate the nomination process within the period required under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 198. This has prompted City Hall to step in to prevent further delays in water service-related decisions.

In a formal letter to MCWD Board Chair Miguelito Pato, Archival said the Office of the Mayor exercised its appointing authority after the water district did not comply with directives from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to fill the professional sector seat.

LWUA had declared the position vacant on Nov. 4, 2025, after finding the earlier appointment of Atty. John Rey O. Saavedra invalid due to the lack of proper solicitation and nomination documents.

The agency ordered MCWD to restart the process in accordance with PD 198 and LWUA Memorandum Circular No. 005-16.

Archival followed up with a letter on December 3, 2025, urging MCWD to immediately begin the nomination process.

With no response from the water district, the mayor said the continued delay risked legal non-compliance and threatened the continuity of essential public services.

“To ensure that the delivery of water services is not hampered, the Office of the Mayor proceeded with the appointment,” Archival said in the appointment document.

Roble was nominated by the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines Inc. (IECEP), which submitted a board resolution and certification attesting to her active membership and good standing.

She also provided sworn certifications affirming that she is not related to the appointing authority within the prohibited degree, is not a government employee, and is not covered by the election ban.

Under the appointment, Roble will serve as MCWD director representing the professional sector from January 12, 2026, until December 31, 2030, unless removed for just cause or she resigns.

Her appointment restores the minimum quorum required for MCWD to operate as a governing body. PD 198 mandates the presence of at least three board members for the water district to approve resolutions, enter into contracts, and issue policy directives.

MCWD’s governance has been strained in recent months as board vacancies left the agency unable to act on urgent infrastructure and service concerns, even as Metro Cebu continued to grapple with water supply instability.

Roble’s entry follows the December 2025 appointment of former MCWD chairman and veteran banker Ruben Dimataga Almendras as civic sector representative, another move by Archival after MCWD missed its nomination deadline.

City Hall has repeatedly warned that prolonged vacancies at the water district expose consumers to service risks, particularly at a time when decisive leadership is needed to address long-standing water issues.

With the professional sector seat now filled, the MCWD board is expected to resume regular operations and move forward with decisions critical to stabilizing water services across Metro Cebu.(TGP)