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Ben Contreras .

HOT as it may seem, concerned citizens are agog over it on Facebook following the statement written by Mindanao Current’s Ed Montalvan, also the chairman of the board of Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD).

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With some errors in it, one might be tempted to think that it was written in a panic mode. Was there a conflict between COWD and the “Sangguniang Panglalawigan” in the city? Surely, it was an honest mistake.

Montalvan said he was appointed in accordance with law as provided in PD 198. Though appointed by the local executive, he cannot be removed by the same. He however can resign when things get rough.

Indeed, the board is a policy-making body and has nothing to do with the management. But he claims that the board has the power to appoint and remove a general manager under their rules and procedures. And they did remove Rachel Beja on the ground of “loss of trust and confidence.”

* Just for a clearer picture, it was not in the “20s” (another honest mistake) but in the late ’90s that Rio Verde got the contract to supply COWD the bulk water the latter badly needed, not through legal means but political.

Trouble began when the Commission on Audit disallowed the payments of COWD to Rio Verde on the ground that the contract is “fraught with anomalies.” Thus, a case arose from it making it more difficult for both parties for years. For Rio Verde, they claim that their “losses were piling up and they agree to allow COWD to purchase water from other sources.” Who is/are the other source/sources?

“In the meantime, the water district had to look for alternative suppliers… This is where MWIC came in.” MWIC! This must be the Pangilinan group or the Metro Pacific. How? Events were capsulized as if the public was properly and thoroughly informed. Were you informed?

We heard about Metropac as one that was engaged by Rio Verde to help and manage the business and facility. Well, nothing wrong with that until we read it in the newspaper about the signing. When interviewed, our mayor (kuno) said he has no involvement in it but was there as a witness. Well, Moreno can tell that to the marines.

At face value, Beja seems to be well versed of the whole event. But things have not been what they seem until we heard and read that Beja was dismissed.

There are four knights in shining armors who brought in the PCC to look into the matter. I hope they are truly the knights and not the kind of Oliver Lozano. Why? Because they are allies of Moreno. But then again, Moreno has warned these knights not to meddle with the issue. Wala kuno silay labot. Ikaw, Kagayanon, wala kay labot? Wala tay labot? Does it not concern us?

Montalvan said his article is just an introduction to this topic. Let us wait for the next one. In the meantime, let’s see what happens in the coming committee hearing scheduled on Tuesday at the city council while I review some documents.

***

Let me repeat this question. Why is the DILG-10 office having difficulties in enforcing the dismissal orders, I repeat, orders (as in many) against Moreno? If it can be done in other places, why can’t it be done here? DILG Secretary Año, please look into this.

 

* (Editor’s note: Ben Contreras got it wrong. Ed Montalvan cannot be referring to the ’20s as in 1920s when he wrote “20s” because he is aware that the COWD was non-existent in the 1920s and that the utility started serving the city only in 1973. The COWD-Rio Verde contract was signed in 2004 or 2005 contrary to Contreras’s claim that it happened in the late ’90s. A mistake cannot be corrected with a bigger mistake. Facts matter.)

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