THE Cagayan de Oro City Council on Monday, December 2, passed a resolution opposing the extended intervention of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in the operations of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD).
Councilor Roger Abaday authored Resolution 2024-936, citing legal concerns and the lack of tangible solutions during LWUA’s six-month oversight.
He argued that LWUA’s control was implemented without due consultation with the city government and its residents.
“This intervention has caused distress among COWD employees who fear unfair treatment,” Abaday said.
He urged LWUA to withdraw its interim board and management and allow local authorities to govern the water district.
“We call upon the Chairman of the administration of Lwua to reconsider the position to remove the interim officials and respect the authority of the governance of Cagayan de Oro and to stop the baseless intervention and to allow local government officials and management of Cowd to fulfill the responsibility of Cowd to the people of Cagayan de Oro,” Abaday elaborated in his special report.
Abaday highlighted that LWUA's actions have failed to address the COWD crisis and have instead created dissatisfaction.
He called on the administration to respect local autonomy as outlined in the Provincial Water Utility Act.
However, Councilor Jose ‘Pepe’ Abbu, Jr, representing the minority bloc, advocated giving LWUA more time to fulfill its mandate.
Abbu pointed out that all water districts outside Manila are under LWUA’s supervision, arguing that local governments do not have control over these entities.
“Kung man gani wala’y improvement o growth na mahitabo. Perhaps it is public knowledge nga sa pag (take) over sa LWUA nagkagubot pa. Let’s give them a chance to perform their duties outside the external forces nga makabalda pud sa ilahang trabaho,” said Abbu, noting the challenges LWUA faced during its initial takeover.
The resolution was approved by a majority vote, with five council members abstaining: Jose Abbu, Yevonna Yacine Emano, Imee Rose Moreno, Ceasar Ian Achas, and Agapito Suan.
