News News News News News News News News News
Transcription
News News News News News News News News News
Cover Table of Contents Dinalupihan WD: MAKING THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES 3 Sasmuan Water District: REACHING OUT TO THE ISLAND BARANGAYS 12 In Banaue, Water System Seen Solution To Feud 8 Prepairing Your Finances For Retirement 14 SJDMWD Holds Water Quality Workshop, Ups Supply Quality 18 21 News The is a quarterly publication of the Local Water Utilities Administration, produced by the Public Affairs Department with editorial office located at the 3/F LWUA Bldg. Katipunan Road, Balara, Q.C. Tel. Nos.: 9294526; 9205581 to 99 locals 333, 311 and 355 Board of TTrustees rustees Rene Villa Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe Engr. Eduardo Santos Carlos Primo David Management Salvador C. Ner Acting Administrator Emmanuel B. Malicdem Sr. Deputy Administrator Manolo A. Kagahastian Acting Deputy Administrator, Investment & Financial Services Edwin T. Ruiz Acting Deputy Administrator, Area Operations Services Rebecca C. Barbo Acting Deputy Administrator, Administrative Services 2 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 Editorial Staff Antonio B. Magtibay Editorial Adviser Teodoro M. Reynoso Editor Victor D. Alerta Associate Editor Jun P. Icban III Art, Design & Lay-out Vivian B. Ranjo Editorial Assistant Rey M. Vida Edgar L. Aniceto Photography Josie L. Oberio Gerry Peru Circulation Visit us at: www.lwua.gov.ph The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 3 Sasmuan Water District: Reaching Out To The Island Barangays by Teodoro M. Reynoso Photos by Reynaldo M. Vida After an hour of boat ride that took us sustained by the river’s still clean but brackish few of his staff to visit two “island barangays” in into almost entire length and breadth of the waters and its delta bounded on both sides by the vicinity where the water districts has already Pampanga River from a small dock near the kilometers of fish ponds broken by cogonal sand expanded its potable water supply service. Sasmuan town proper to its estuaries almost bars and some isolated stretches of mangroove bordering the Manila Bay, one cannot be but forests. It may be a wonder to casual visitors like us how human settlements have not only amazed that just less than a hundred kilometers It was indeed a sight to behold, sprouted and survived but flourished in such inland and about half that distance from Manila particularly for an accidental tourists like me and seeming wilderness isolation.But GM Beda across the bay there lie something like it: A virtual my photographer, Rey Vida, who took a ride in offered two explanations: The area used to be ecosystem teeming with fish and other marine the motorized fiberglass banca owned by the the trading route in the early times even pre- creatures and at that particularly early part of the Sasmuan Water District (SWD) in the company dating the Spanish era where goods from other year, varieties of migratory birds that are being of SWD General Manager Beda Carlos and a parts of Pampanga were ferried by boats to 4 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 Manila and vice versa by way of the Pampanga River. Despite the decline only for the inhabitants but also for transients who have come to the area for of the river transport system with the development of the various road livelihood and business. networks in the province, the Pampanga River and its delta remained a GM Beda said the SWD primarily decided to expand to the far- rich source of fish and other marine products particularly in areas not yet off island barangays because it has already saturated its service area in converted into fish ponds where the industrious, the enterprising and the the town proper and the nearby barangays across both sides of the adventurous types could earn not just decent living but also get rich and Sasmuan River. But the motivation is more altruistic than economic since prosperous. the water district is barely breaking even with and at times even subsidizing These are incidentally the reasons local authorities are very potable water supply operations in the area. careful and deliberate in opening up the area for domestic as well as The water system in the bigger island barangay of Malusac was foreign eco-tourism. They would want to preserve the historical value of funded by a loan from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in the place as well as its importance as a source of sustainable business 2007 and is serving about 70 household connections while that in Sebitanan and livelihood especially for the fisherfolks and locals engaged in various was supported by a grant also from LWUA in 2009 and is supplying water marine and aquatic resources development endeavors. to some 50 families, mostly fisherfolks. During our visit to the area, we were shown a lush mangroove But GM Beda sees the potentials of the island barangays and forest island near the mouth of Manila Bay which the local tourism office is sitios in the Pampanga River delta of becoming more than mere human reportedly eyeing as an attraction and destination for local and foreign settlements and hosts for the various fishponds and other marine and tourists complete with a boat dock and a resting pavillion. Though tourism aquatic activities. He’s envisioning a time when some of these could also could sometimes be intrusive and exploitative, GM Beda sees this become fishing ports and manufacturing sites side by side with being a happening as an opportunity to open up and bring the isolated island promising eco-tourism site. barangays nearer to the mainstream of the town’s development. He rued that Sasmuan was rarely brought to better light especially GM Beda was very proud of what the Sasmuan Water District in the mass media, particularly in so-called times of natural calamities has done in the recent years to bring potable water supply and services to where the town is often portrayed as wallowing in misery and need on two of the area’s larger and more populous island barangays. He said that account of ante deluvial floodings.” We are used to floodings and it is just it seems to presage the coming of more socio- economic opportunities not that some officials tend to exaggerate things around here especially during typhoons so that calamity funds could be released and so-called disaster But the Mt. Pinatubo crises put the development of the water relief would pour in”, GM Beda said. Perhaps you could just imagine how system in Sasmuan in the back seat as the authorities in the town as well bad or worst we were, especially the people in the island barangays had as other affected towns and cities of Pampanga became busy with the been when the news about the catastrophic floodings in Hagonoy, Calumpit priority socio-economic rehabilitation. In the case of Sasmuan, the priority ( in Bulacan ), Masantol and Macabebe were dominating the airwaves” was placed on rehabilitating the local fishing and aquaculture industries that “But nothing of that sort happened here. We are used to the were affected by the lahar siltation. This continued well into 1992 and parts floodings well aware and accepting the fact that our town is part of the catch basin here in Central Luzon”, GM Beda said. of 1993. Sometime middle of 1993, a team from the German KfW agency, Of course, we believed him readily after seeing how things are one of the international aid institutions helping in the rehabilitation of the in the island barangays we visited. Not a trace of damage, physical or areas devastated by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption visited Sasmuan offering psycholoigical have we encountered interacting with some locals there. fund assistance for potable water supply development. The condition GM Beda compared the pioneering thrusts made by SWD in attached to the offer was that for the local government to provide a site for what are essentially “missionary routes” island barangays in the delta the project that would include the development of a well source, construction area with the development of the water district from its humble, inauspicious of a pump station and installation of one kilometer pipeline. beginnings in the late 80s, early 90s which he observed followed a common thread. It so happened that the project site was near the home of GM Beda, who at that time had already finished a degree in architecture at the SWD-HUMBLE BEGINNINGS University of Sto. Tomas and had returned to Sasmuan to help with the The Sasmuan Water District (SWD) traced its roots in the family fishpond business. Since he could speak fluent English, GM Beda immediate aftermath of a cataclysmic event that affected and changed the later acted as interpreter for the German engineers in communicating with landscape of much of Pampanga—the Mt. Punatubo eruption in 1991 and the locals in the project area. lahar denudations the ensuing few years. However, officially, the SWD The KfW project was completed the following year, 1994 but was created by virtue of a sanguguniang Bayan Board Resolution No. there was no institutional development follow-up to operationalize the system. 0484 the year before in 1990 under the incumbency of then Mayor Alejandro Until in 1995, then sitting Mayor Fernando Baltazar moved to activate the Panlaqui. The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 5 SWD by re-organizing its Board of Directors. GM Beda was offered a Board seat and became its first Chairman, GM Beda underwent training in basic policy making with LWUA availing of the agency’s training assistance grant in 1996 where he began establishing contacts in the agency’s management. Through his efforts, the SWD was able to avail of a P2.5 million loan from LWUA which it used in operationalizing the water district and the system, installing individual household connections as well as additional five kilometers of pipelines. OFFICIAL START OF OPERATIONS; GROWING PAINS June 10, 1997 marked the official start of the SWD operations with Beda Carlos assuming as its first general manager and Jose Arce ( now deceased ) as his replacement as Board Chair. GM Beda’s first priority upon assuming the management helm of the SWD was the electrification of the existing pumping station then being run by diesel which was not only costly but causing inconvenience for the emryonic SWD staff then holding office at the said pump station. “ We cannot hold office inside the pump station because of the heat and noise emanating from the running diesel engine”, GM Beda reminisced. He had to shuttle to and from Sasmuan and Makati where KfW was holding office, utilizing his own car and own money in the process without getting or receiving anything from the SWD during those times he was trying to get additional funding for the electrification of the pumping station. His efforts paid dividends when KfW granted additional funds that made that possible shortly thereafter. But the real work had just started and GM Beda found himself going to other established water districts in Pampanga and Tarlac to borrow water supply materials for SWD which he replaced with the SWD allocations from LWUA. “ At that time, we really have to beg and borrow, short of stealing, GM Beda jestingly enthused. The SWD especially GM Beda also took advantage of opportunities to train and mearn more about running the water system, availing of training grants from LWUA and the JICA. With the Sasmuan water district fully set up organizationally and running relatively trouble-free, GM Beda in 1998 decided to pursue and complete a master’s degree in business administration at the Guagua National Colleges in the nearby Guagua town. 6 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 7 EXPANSION OF THE SWD SYSTEM With the growth of service connections and increase in water revenues at the start of the new decade ( 2000s), SWD was able to implement further improvements and expansion on the system. In 2005, utilizing its own funds and with material assistance from then Rep. Zenaida Ducut, SWD was able to construction its pumping station no.2 in Bgy. Sta. Lucia. Later that same year, with some fund assistance from the Presidential Support Fund, the water district was able to connect Bgy. San Pedro and two sitios ( San Francisco Cutud and Remedios ) across the river to the system. In 2007, the SWD applied for and was able to secure a LWUA loan which was used in the development of the water system in the island barangay of Malusac. In 2009, SWD became a recipient of a grant from LWUA which it used in developing another independent water system for the island barangay of Sebitanan and the construction of another pumping station ( P.S. # 5) in Bgy. Sto. Tomas near the border with Guagua. SWD’s facilities now include five pumping stations capable of generating a total of 54 liters of water per second which is more than enough to sustain Sasmuan’s water needs for generations to come, and a network of pipelines more than ten kilometers in length which is sufficient for its generally compact service area covering nine of Sasmuan’s total twelve barangays, namely: Sta Lucia, Sta. Monica, San Antonio, San Nicolas I, San Nicolas II, Sto. Tomas, San Pedro and the island barangays of Malusac and Sebitanan. GM Beda said the SWD is exploring the possibility of developing water systems in the three remaining island barangays of Batang I, Batang II and Mabuwanbuwan which incidentally are located far off in the fringes of Manila Bay. SWD now has more than 2,400 service connections accounting for about 16,000 residents enjoying safe potable water 24/7 while paying one of the lowest minimum water rates for small category water districts in Pampanga and even the entire Central Luzon at P170.00. GM Beda said the water district will maintain its present water rates for as long as they can sustain the operations and the planned expansion to the missionary routes— the three remaining populated island barangays in the town’s watery periphery at the end of the Pampanga river. 8 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 Dinalupihan Water District: MAKING THE M by Teodoro M. Reynoso Dinalupihan, the first town of and gateway to Bataan coming from Pampanga and from Olongapo City with its vast Subic Bay complex in the province of Zambales, never really enjoyed its current strategic location and importance until after the massive reconstruction, rehabilitation and development efforts that followed the Mt. Pinatubo eruption/devastation and the withdrawal of the American naval and air force bases at Subic and its conversion to a free port at the start of the 1990s. It’s quite ironic that despite being astride amidst a veritable growth triangle, it was only in the recent decades that Dinalupihan really come along well in infrastructure development and in establishing itself as an important trading commercial and business center. And the town and its people have had to take full advantage of opportunities presented them especially at the height of tha massive rehabilitation and development efforts undertaken by the national government in coordination with local authorities and the assistance of foreign aid and financing agencies in the 90s. MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES The development of modern potable water supply system in Dinalupihan followed almost the same path and pattern. For years and decades, the local residents used to fetch/draw water from available free-flowing and privately-owned deep wells. That changed starting with the establishment of the Dinalupihan Water District on June 20, 1989 by virtue of Local Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 39-89 consistent with the provisions of the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973, also known as Presidentail Decree No. 198, as amended, and the issuance by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) of its Conditional Certificate of Conformance No. 409 in July of the same year. By 1990, the DWD under its first general manager Carlos Magkalas became a recipient of a P10.36 million loan from LWUA which was used in the construction of the first-ever water supply system for the town of Dinalupihan. GM Manalili The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 9 The further development of the DWD system was affected by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and the ensuing humanitarian crisis which the national government, including the LWUA had to first attend to. But with the intercession of then Congressman Felicisimo Tong Payumo, some amounts from the rehab assistance funds found their way to helping the DWD fund futher improvement and some expansion projects during the period. With service connections steadily increasing resulting to improving financial position for the water district in the remainder of the 1990s, the DWD was able to not only to sustain its operations but also to undertake some system improvement and expansion. The next big break came in 2004 with LWUA providing an additional P28 million loan to DWD for the comprehensive improvement and expansion of its water supply system. By this time, GM Magkalas had reached the mandatory retirement age leaving one of his division managers, Engineer Ber Manalili to handle the helm of the water district and steer it through the then ongoing expansion project. GM Manalili did not disappoint and under his stewardship, the project was completed and the system was expanded to the barangays of Sta. Isabel,, Daang Bago,, Aparing, Pinulot and part of Bancal. With the savings from the project, DWD also was able to extend the system to the barangay of Tucop. 10 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 11 Another break came in 2009 with the inclusion of DWD for mixed grant-loan assistance under LWUA’s NLIF program where the water district was also able to expand to the barangays of Layac, Roosevelt, Happy Valley, San Pablo and Pitadalaw. With the sudden stoppage of fund release for the NLIF projects, the DWD decided to use its own funds in completing the rehabilitation of existing ground reservoir at Roosevelt and improvements in two pumping stations which are being fitted with sumps to store water and boost supply and pressure during peak demand periods. GM Manalili said DWD system now covers 43 of the town’s 46 barangays and could reach 90 percent coverage once the water system of Bgy. Maligaya and Lincoln Park are turned over to the water district soon. The DWD presently serves some 10.590 concessionaires with production coming from one old spring source and eight deep wells driven by as many pumping stations. DWD’s latest accomplishment is the expansion and modernization of its original office building that includes an enclosed, airconditioned customer reception area fitted with cable TV. The office is also fitted with a number of closed circuit TV (CCTV) for monitoring and security purposes. Also recently completed was the water district’s centralized warehouse and motorpool. .GM Manalili said the DWD is aspiring to be upgraded from its current “C” category. 12 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 In Banaue, Water Syste The tourist town of Banaue in Ifugao is developing a water distribution system amid complaints that the water supply of a village there is being controlled by a government-run hotel. Banaue Mayor Jerry Dalipog said potable spring in Ifugao is being shared and rationed among villages because water pressure falls during the dry season. “In Banaue, the discharge rate has dropped from 30 to 40 percent. This was not the case before, but we have determined that this is due to our dwindling forests,” Dalipog told INQUIRER on Thursday. Banaue is home to the Batad Rice Terraces, the most photographed and visited destination of five Ifugao terrace clusters classified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations as a World Heritage Site. Dalipog said the local government spent up to P40 million to install a main piping system for Banaue in 20 years. He said the Banaue Water District would operate this year. He said thedistrict’s application for a franchise at the Local Water Utilities Administration is pending and the next step would be to finance the system that would connect the district’s main pipeline to 21,448 end users. em Seen Solution To Feud He said the start of the water district’s operations could resolve “We are tired of being in the mercy of your management and complaints aired against the government-run Banaue Hotel, which is suffering the inconvenience of not having regular water supply which (is overseen b y the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority free and given by nature),” the complaint said. (Tieza), because it alone has water distribution facilities in the area. Banaue Hotel draws water from a reservoir from natural spring, called Sumigar, 18 kilometers away. Dalipog said the Banaue water utility intends to tap water from the same source. Dalipog said some households around the hotel compound have tapped illegally into the water system and hotel management tolerates them except during the dry season when tourists arrivals pick up. “The hotel needs to serve its clients so they manually pull out the But a complaint sent by e-mail to Tieza and various newspapers illegal connections from the water line. The households have understood on Monday said Banaue Hotel controls the water supply of Sitio Iloque and this cycle because they later restore their connections from the water line. Barangay Tam-an. The households have understood this cycle because they later restore The complaint, which was signed by an unidentified Banaue their connections at the end of the tourist season,” he said. resident, said the Banaue Hotel gave “strict orders or instruction to turn (off) In a statement sent by e-mail, the Banaue Hotel said its Sumigar the water supply valves (of the hotel, that distributes water) to all (houses in) reservoir “was (built) to supply a 20-room hotel with a restaurant (but) as Tam-an and Iloque.” years went by, the hotel has been expanding with additional rooms This order, the complaint said, was issued on Sept. 26, 2011. necessitating the construction of additional water tanks.” (Reprinted from Philippine Daily Inquirer) The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 13 Preparing Your Finances For Retirement I recently received an email from Nino, a follower of this column. He wanted to grow old with financial stability and to exonerate his children from the burden of having him as their income dependent. Today, raising a child is like life insurance. Raise them well, send them to good schools to have a good career and eventually, when the time comes, take care of their parents’ retirement. Then when children have their own family, they’ll do the same and be in that chain of compromise in their entire life. Nothing is wrong with this arrangement. It’s just that there are improved ways to secure a family’s future. Most Filipino families are in spoken agreement that children are 100 percent responsible for their parent’s retirement. Financial support is a passé way of measuring children’s respect and love for parents. Given a chance, isn’t it empowering, liberating and fulfilling to manage your own life? A child with the right set of values from parents will definitely perform his duties beyond financial support. There’s a need to break the vicious cycle. I’ve had conversations with people in this situation, and while they are happy to serve their family, they also know there’s an ideal way of supporting the family. I am lucky that my family did not require me to support them financially. I have ways of showing them my love and gratitude. With this, I am free to explore life and do things 14 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 15 that will improve my future. Writing for this column is an aftermath of Our way of managing the family is unique in other races. We personal fulfillment – my confidence in sharing my experiences is a product have close family ties and we support each other by all means. It’s high of the independence they have given me. time that we recognize that this approach hinders every Filipino family to Below are some of the tips to ensure that parents and children its full potential. You will achieve your ideal life only if you do your part. have a secured future without too many compromises from both parties. Sometimes you have to do the unconventional to gain more in life. Parents should have separate savings. Expecting children to Regardless of status in life, most people would want to have full control and manage retirement is a selfish act. Parents would want their children to still manage to contribute to the people around them. I encourage everyone enjoy life without set restrictions. Remember the golden rule: Treat others to plant the seeds of a better life and harvest the sweetest fruits in the near the way you would want to be treated. If parents allowed their children to future with you families. focus on their personal growth, a probability of a successful and wealthy future is expected. 10 WAYS TO MAKE HEALTHY HABITS STICK If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Ideally, soon-to-be parents Whether you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight or should have enough savings before raising a family. For those who you’re trying (again) to quit smoking, changing any lifestyle behavior is started a family early and are unable to save, find a way to have savings. notoriously difficult. Some people feel unsure of how to go about it. Others Always keep something for yourself. Have the desire to have personal start off strong, only to revert to old ways within a matter of time. savings and secure your future. Remember that you can’t give what you Most people who smoke, eat too much sweets and snacks, or don’t have. During turbulence in a flight, you have to wear your oxygen avoid exercise, realize that these behaviors can lead to health problems. mask before attending to your child. It’s the same concept in raising a family. Have generous savings before preaching to your children about saving. No one has full control of their children’s future. Parents should acknowledge the fact that they can only influence their children and not control their life. This means that no one else is responsible for your future except yourself. Some parents demand support from their children, and this is okay, but they just have to be prepared to fail and be content with what they could get. Parents sometimes lose credibility and control over their family because they submit to their child, who happens to be the breadwinner: I’m sure a parent would still want control and have the last say in the family’s decision making. This can be done if you still manage your life during retirement. Responsibility concept. If your hands are tied because your parents and siblings depend on you, please tell them the concept of individual responsibilities. You can’t be 100 percent there for them at all times. You also have to manage yourself and your own family. This step is liberal and it’s expected that people around you will go against this unpopular state. Reality hurts and we have to start now if we want a better future. If you want progress in life and break the cycle, you have to take the initial step. 16 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 But knowledge doesn’t automatically or easily translate to action. Acknowledging this gap, health professionals have spent years studying what actually works in helping people make long-lasting behavior changes. Here are 10 effective strategies. ASSESS YOUR READINESS Changing behaviors that you may have developed over the years – often without conscious thought—takes commitment and mental and physical effort. Timing is key to success. Starting when you’re distracted by other major events in your life, such as marital or financial problems, can set you up for failure. Another important aspect of readiness is your motivation to change. You must first perceive a need to change—from within. No one sugary dessert twice a week. After you achieve that, you might set a new goal of eating fruit for dessert five days a week. else can make you change. If your doctor recommends that you cut BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT saturated fats from your diet to help control your cholesterol levels, how This may sound obvious, but to successfully change, you need does that relate to your own values, beliefs and goals? Your motivation to feel confident that you can do it. If you see your health or behavior or might be to avoid taking medications or to stay healthy so that you can something beyond your control (“There’s nothing I can do about it.” Or I’m enjoy your grandchildren. just made this way genetically”) you might not see how you could possibly change it or believe that the change will truly benefit your health. START WITH SMALL STEPS You may need to gather information about the change you’re If you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes or high making. For example, you might want to talk with a friend who’s already blood pressure, your treatment plan might include a host of major lifestyle got a walking program in place about how to get started and stay motivated. changes- -such as dietary changes or exercise. Instead, start with a As you successfully take small steps toward your new behavior, you’ll feel small step. If you haven’t been physically active, walk around the block more confident. after dinner. If you’re trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, add more carrots or spinach to your pasta sauce. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR BEHAVIOR Observing and recording your behavior can help promote SET REALISTIC GOALS change. This “self-monitoring” includes things like weighing yourself, Setting goals improves the odds of achieving a desired change. keeping a food or exercise diary, or charting your blood pressure. The most useful goals are SMART—specific, measurable, attainable, People who self-monitor their food intake have been found to lose twice as relevant and time-limited. A goal to “experience more” sounds good, but much weight as do those who don’t keep track of what they eat. In addition, isn’t specific or measurable. “Walk 60 minutes everyday” is specific but it people who weigh themselves regularly (though not necessarily daily) are may not be attainable or relevant to your ability. A SMART goal might to more successful at losing weight and keeping it off. walk 30 minutes a day, five days a week—or, if you’re just starting out, to take that walk around the block after dinner several nights a week. SOLVE PROBLEMS A series of short-term or “time-limited” or goals can move you To change for the long term, you’ll need strategies in place for toward a long-term goal. At first, your goal might be to substitute fruit for a solving problems as they arise—because they inevitably will. Problem solving involves several steps: identifying and defining the problem, find ways to change or avoid them. If you go for coffee or dessert every brainstorming solutions, evaluating the pros and cons of solutions, putting time you see a particular friend, suggest that you go for a walk instead. them into action, and then evaluating how well they worked. This process Your network of friends, family and other close contacts can will help you overcome potential roadblocks, such as the cost of a health provide encouragement, emotional support, and reinforcement for your club membership or exercise equipment. efforts. Tell your family and friends that you’d appreciate their help, and offer specific suggestions on what they can do. GET A GOOD NIGHT’s SLEEP Many people benefit from organized support, whether from a Are you getting enough sleep? You might not realize how dietician, doctor, counselor, personal trainer, support group or commercial important sleep is as a foundation for behavioral change. Lack of sleep program. You can gain insights from others experiencing similar can interfere with our ability to focus, learn, and remember. When you’re challenges, track the changes you’re achieving or work together to build not sleeping well, you may be more likely to make poor decisions and feel skills. irritable, which can sabotage your efforts to change. Aim for about eight hours of sleep a night, and stick to a sleep schedule. BOUNCE BACK FROM LAPSES MANAGE STRESS Old habits die hard. An occasional lapse is normal. When it Everything seems to be going smoothly with your new program happens, avoid falling into all-or-nothing thinking. One setback doesn’t –until the week your car breaks your down, you’ve filled up your calendar, mean you’re a failure. Keep in mind the 90-10 rule — it’s what you do 90 and your best friend is diagnosed with a serious disease. When stressful percent of the time that matters, not 10 percent of the time. To get back on situations occur, your natural response may be to abandon your plan. track, take another small step. Remember that changing your life doesn’t Stress, both short-term and chronic, can undermine your efforts to get happen all at once. healthier. Find healthy ways to cope, such as prioritizing your activities, setting aside time to relax, and delegating or letting go of some responsibilities THE TOP 3 BEHAVIORS TO CHANGE A hundred years ago, behavior choices had little to do with health. CREATE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT The leading causes of death were infectious diseases, such as influenza If you can understand the environmental or social cues or and tuberculosis. But today’s top killers – heart diseases, cancer and triggers that go along with the behavior you’re trying to change, you can stroke—can all be prevented to some extent. It’s estimated that as many as half of all deaths each year stem from unhealthy behaviors. . Stop using tobacco. Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable or premature deaths. . Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dried beans and peas (legumes) and low in fat. This promotes a healthy weight and helps reduce the risk of various diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. . Stay physically active. Physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer, and also prevents obesity. (Reprinted from Philippine Star) The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 17 SJDMWD Holds Water Quality Workshop, Ups Supply Quality San Jose Del Monte City Water District (San Jose Water) in Bulacanrecently shared the results of its twinning partnership with Korean Water Resources Corporation (K-Water) to address San Jose Water’s existing water quality issues, foremost of which is the high manganese content of its raw water during El Niño conditions. The workshop, organized by San Jose Water in coordination with K-Water and Water Links-USAID, was held last November 24, 2011 at Pacific Waves Resort, City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Officials of San Jose Water led by GM Lory Limcolioc and Board Chairman Felipe M. Policarpio, Jr. were in full attendance. Officials from K-Water led by its Director General, Mr.Kyungil Lee, also flew in from South Korea to share learning and insights from the twinning partnership. The workshop participants came from the water districts of Puerto Princesa, Metro by Atty. Lea Pacia Javier San Jose Water officials led by GM LoryLimcolioc (7th from left) and Board Chairman Felipe M. Policarpio, Jr. (4th from left) pose with K-Water officials and City Mayor Reynaldo S. San Pedro (center) during the Workshop on Water Quality Management Improvements where the result ofthe Twinning Partnership between San Jose Water and K-Water was presented to other water districts. 18 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 19 Carigara, Metro Iloilo, Metro Cebu, CamarinesNorte, Metro Tuguegarao, Davao City, Tandag, Malaybalay, Butuan City and Isabela City. Mayor Reynaldo S. San Pedro of the City of San Jose Del Monte graced the opening ceremonies. In his presentation of the results of the partnership, GM Lory Limcolioc of San Jose Water emphasized the more efficientcoagulation in San Jose Water’s treatment plant as the technical team from both San Jose Water and K-Water revised the coagulant dosing line at the raw water intake facility to uniformly distribute coagulant across the channel in arrival basin. The team also modified and upgraded the sludge lagoon which serves San Jose Water’s two treatment plants to improve sludge treatment. A middle chlorination on top of pre and post-chlorination was Representatives from K-Water ECO-ASIA and San Jose Water pose also added to improve disinfection and help algae control. after signing the Memorandum of Agreement for the Twinning GM Limcolioc also noted the upgrade in San Jose Water’s Partnership at K-Water’s head office in Daejeon, South Korea last laboratory where additional parameters for water quality monitoring such year, April 8, 2011. Seated from L to R: San Jose Water Board Chairman as manganese, alkalinity, color, iron and trihalomethaneswere added. San Felipe M. Policarpio, Jr., GM Loreto G. Limcolioc, Mark Nichol from ECO-Asia, and Mr. Kyungil Lee, Director General of K-Water Academy. Standing, from L to R: K-Water officials Daekchun Han, Seungyeol Suh, Kwansoo Seok, Engr. Exrquiel Agapito of San Jose Water, Kihang Koo, Hyunsik Hwang, Eungbyong Kim, Heejung Son, and Yongkwan Moon. Professor Kwan SooSeok of K-Water Acadmy (right), Engr. Florencio Prof Kwansoo Seok (extreme left) asks Engr. Florence Lorenzo Of Lorenzo (left) WTP Division Manager of San Jose Water, and Mr. San Jose Water about the treatment process as Mr. Mark Nichol Of Mark Nichol of ECO-ASIA test the chlorine and turbidity of sample USAID and Engr. Exequiel Agapito, SJW’s Production Department water taken from San Jose Water’s WTP Filtration Chamber. Manager look on. 20 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 Jose Water’s sampling point facilities were likewise standardized resulting to optimal residual chlorine at the distribution system. The partnership between San Jose Water and K-Water commenced on April 8, 2011 when the two water utilities signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at K-Water’s principal office in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. The MOU was signed by GM Loreto Limcolioc and Board Chairman Felipe M. Policarpio, Jr. for San Jose Water, Mr.Kyungil Lee, Director General of K-Water Academy and andMr.ArieIstandar, ECO-Asia’s Water and Sanitation Team Leader. The MOU includes four visits by K-Water to the Philippines and two visits by San Jose Water to South Korea. K-Water’s last visit is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2012 but the system improvements for Bgy. Muzon Chairman and former councilor Nolly Concepcion speaks water quality upgrading at San Jose Water will be an ongoing program. to express his support to the proposed septage management program “We have committed to allocate a budget to implement the for the City of San Jose Del Monte during the public consultation. system improvements under the twinning partnership,” said Board Chairman Policarpio. San Jose Water is the one of the largest water service provider technical cooperation and knowledge exchange with counterpart operators abroad. in the Philippines, with over 74,000 service connections. Meanwhile, K- The partnership of the two water agencies was facilitated by Water is a recognized water knowledge hub and operator that manages ECO-ASIA through WaterLinks, a regional network that promotes water water resources and water supply production/distribution for local operator partnerships to support the transfer of good practices, expertise governments throughout South Korea. Its robust water quality management and technology through peer-to-peer exchangeswhere a utility (recipient programs have led to assurance of safe water provision, meeting stringent twin) that seeks to improve its performance and service delivery pairs with national and international standards, and operates an internationally a stronger utility (mentor twin) to learn from. accredited water quality analysis institution that promotes international San Jose Water is looking at the possibility of replicating the partnership with other water districts in the country, this time with San Jose Water as the mentor utility. GM LoryLimcolioc and Board Chairman Felipe M. Policarpio, Jr. discuss water quality issues with officials of K-Water Academy at the latter’s Participants from various water districts in the country actively join head office in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. the discussion in the Seminar Workshop Quality Improvements held at Pacific Waves Resort, CSJDM, Bulacan. News News News News News News News News News GLOBAL ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER IMPROVES, SAYS REPORT The goal of reducing by half the number of people without access to safe drinking water has been achieved ahead of the 2015 deadline for reaching the globally agreed development targets aimed at ridding the world of extreme poverty, hunger and preventable diseases. But efforts to improve sanitation still fall behind. According to a recent joint report of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO), over two billion people gained access to improved drinking water sources such as piped supply and protected wells between 1990 and 2010. Having the number of people without access to clean drinking water is one of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which include ending extreme poverty, reducing child and maternal mortality rates, fighting diseases, an establishing a global partnership for development. Access to clean drinking water is one of the first MDG targets to be met. At the end of 2010, an estimated 89 percent of the world’s population, or 6.1 billion people, used improved drinking water sources, according to the report. The figure is one percent more than the 88 percent stated in the MDG targets. The report estimates that by 2015, some 92 percent of the global population will have access to improved drinking water. But UNICEF cautioned that success cannot yet be declared because at least 11 percent of the world’s population or 783 million people still have no access to safe drinking water, and billions live without sanitation facilities. The world, according to the report, is still far from meeting the MDG target for sanitation, and is unlikely to do so by 2015. Only 63 percent of the world population has access to improved sanitation, a figure projected to increase to only 67 percent by 2015, well below the 75 percent MDG target. Currently 2.5 billion people still lack improved sanitation. UNICEF and WHO underscored that significant work must still be done to ensure that sources of water are improved and remain safe. The United Nations General assembly has recognized access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities as human rights. Source: Science & Technology Section, The Philippine Star, 04/17/2012) The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 21 News News News News News News News News News WATER SECTOR OFFERS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES The Millennium Goal of providing safe water to all Filipinos by 2015 remains daunting and will cost billions of dollars. But this will open big opportunities for private investments. This summed up the presentation of Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Santos and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Chairman Ramon Alikpala before members of the water committee of the Philippine Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) recently. Between the two lead water agencies on top of developing potable water systems in the country, they reported providing potable water to 17.5 million people in the provinces under LWUA covering 981 cities and towns and 13.75 million people in mega Manila under the MWSS. The MWSS estimated that the mega city which includes several towns outside of metro Manila has a population of 15 million while the latest official population of the Philippines was pegged at 94 million. Alikpala further reported that no less than 455 towns remain waterless or do not have waterworks systems that work. Both government officials admitted that the government alone could not single handedly shoulder the burden of extending water systems to all households, commercial establishments and industrial plants. There is an urgent need to harness private sector support to help meet the challenge. Alikpala said that the opportunities for private investments lie in water and waste water or sewerage system development and management including the putting up of treatment plants and watershed protection and management. Citing as example of private sector involvement, he revealed that the single biggest supplier of bulk water in the country is the company of Senator Manny Villar. Villar, he said supplies potable water to most occupants of the subdivisions he had built. There are institutionaland legal obstacles though that need to be hurdled if more private investment is to be piped into potable water systems and waste water management facilities. Santos and Alikpala admitted that no single agency in government regulates the use of water. In providing safe water to towns and cities, local government units are known to either partner with LWUA in organizing water districts which are government owned corporations, or they partner with the departments of local government (DILG), public works (DPWH) health (DOH) or on their own provide safe water to their constituents. The situation needs to be addressed if the government wants to speed up meeting its commitments to the United Nations which is to provide safe and sustainable water to all Filipinos by 2015. There are now proposed measures pending passage by both houses of Congress to correct the situation. In the meantime, there is still enough water supply for Metro Manila as confirmed by the Manila Water Company. But there is a need to look for alternative sources to the Angat Dam in Bulacan which is the lone water supply source of metro Manila aside from the irrigation requirements of provinces around it, Alikpala said. He likewise noted that the dam lies near an earthquake fault. (Source: Philippine News and Features, 04-16-2012) 22 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 23 LWUA COMES TO AID OF AYUNGON, NEGROS ORIENTAL, OTHER TREMOR-HIT WATER DISTRICTS IN THE VISAYAS The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has mobilized its resources to help repair the water system of Ayungon Water District and restore potable water supply operations there the soonest possible time even as the agency continues to assess and come up with appropriate measures to address the damages wrought to other water districts by the strong February 6, 2012 earthquake measuring 6.9 in the Richter’s scale that hit many parts of the Visayas . LWUA Board Chairman Rene C. Villa and acting Administrator Eduardo Santos flew to Dumaguete City Monday, February 13, 2012) to personally assure water district officials of LWUA’s readiness to help Ayungon and other water districts in the area adversely afftected by the latest and biggest natural calamity to hit the country since the calamitous Typhoon Sendong. The Ayungon Water District suffered major damages in its Chairman Villa inspecting mobile water treatment plant deployed in Ayungon. pipeline network that has forced the stoppage of the delivery of water to its Visayas suffered damages or adverse effects ranging from water turbidity numerous concessionaires since the earthquake. The water district is at sources, increased sand pumping, cracks in facilities as reservoirs currently undertaking emergency repairs of the pipeline at the cost of P1.5 and pumping stations and office buildings. These include the water districts million. of New Lucena and Zarraga in Iloilo, La Carlota City and Pulupandan In LWUA area manager for the Visayas , Engr. Enrique Gita said Negros Occidental, Buenavista and Jordan in Guimaras, Metro Cebu, a request for P5 million funding assistance for Ayungon has already been Pinamungajan, and Dalaguete in Cebu; and Bais City in Negros Oriental. submitted to the LWUA Board for its consideration.To help address the According to Engr. Gita, actual costs of damage are being current shortage in drinking water, Gita said that LWUA has dispatched its estimated and shall be finalized after the completion of actual ground mobile water treatment plant previously assigned in the Typhoon Sendong- assessments . hit Iligan City to Ayungon along with a volunteer team from the agency’s Significantly, no damage however were reported from the water armed forces-affliated 5 Water Battalion headed by Dr. Edison Cuenca to districts of Alimodian, Banate, Calinog, Concepcion, Dingle-Pototan, operate it and help in water distribution or rationing to the residents. It was Duenas, Dumangas-Barotac-Nuevo, Estancia, Igbaras, Janiuay, reported that the LWUA team fortunately escaped landslides during their Lambunao, Lemery and Miag-ao in Iloilo; Bacolod City, Himamaylan, La deployment to the disaster area. Castellana, Murcia and Sipalay in Negros Occidental; Cuartero, Dao, th LWUA officials also went to La Libertad and Guilhulngan City to Dumalag, Dumarao, Libacao, Mambusao, Pilar, President Roxas in Capiz, see how the agency could help as far as providing potable water supply is all water districts in Aklan and Antique; Talibon and Clarin in Bohol, Tanjay, concerned especially to the victims and evacuees. They also held talks Sibulan, Byawan and Metro Siquijor in Negros Oriental; Carcar, Moalboal, with officials of water districts of Sibulan, Tanjay and Dumaguete on their Bogo in Cebu; Leyte Metro, Abuyog, Metro Carigara, Jaro, Baybay, Metro individual concerns and needs brought about by the earthquake and the Hilongos and Naval in Leyte; Sogod and Maasin in Sothern Leyte; Guiuan, previous destructive Typhoon Sendong. Borongan, Taft, General McArthur and Llorente in Eastern Samar; Basey, Initial reports that reached the LWUA headquarters in Quezon City have identified at least ten more water districts in Western and Central Catbalogan, Calbiga and Calbayog City in Western Samar; and Catarman and San Isidro in Northern Samar. News News News News News News News News News 24 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 PUERTO PRINCESA HOSTS PHILWATER 2012 INTERNATIONAL Puerto Princesa City with its world-famous eco-tourism sites, product presentors and exhibitors for the co-featured PhilWater 2012 including the recently declared new wonder of nature underground river, Exhibition. PWWA has been annually organizing and hosting this will be the venue of the 20 staging of the International Conference and international water resource management conference and exhibition since Exhibition on Water Resource Management otherwise known as PhilWater 1992 as its commitment and contribution to promoting the sustainable 2012 carrying the theme, “ Opportunities To Keep Water and development of the world’s water supply and resources. th Environment Healthy”. This was announced recently by the host and Interested parties are requested to contact Ms. Neneth B. Javier organizing Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA) through its newly- at the PWWA Secretariat thru tel. nos. 9207145, 9408862, fax 9278781 elected president, Edgar C. Lopez, chairman of the board of directors of and email address [email protected] or visit their website at the Angeles City Water District (ACWD) who said that PhilWater 2012 will www.pwwa.waterphl.ph. be held at the Hotel Centro this October 17-19, 2012 with the Puerto Princesa City Water District as co-host. Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. recently presided over the induction of the new PWWA officers led by Lopez , who is also president of the Water Environment Association of the Philippines (WEAP, Engr. Roger F. Borja, general manager of the San Pablo City Water District, vice president for national affairs; former Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Administrator Daniel Landingin, vice president for international affairs; Engr. Antonio Magtibay also of LWUA, secretary; Engr. Norman Tatco of Festo Inc., treasurer; Ninia P. Lumauan, general manager of the Metro Tuguegarao Water District, auditor; Eng. Eulogio F. Agatep of Agafer Construction, PRO. The other PWWA officers included incumbent LWUA OIC BONGBONG INDUCTS PWWA OFFICERS. Senator Administrator Engr. Eduardo C. Santos .Metropolitan Waterworks and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (center) recently inducted the new Sewerage System (MWSS) Board Chairman Ramon B. Alikpala, Teresa officers of the Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA) led by its Araneta of Pipe Systems, Engr. John M. Castaneda of the Department of president, Edgar C.Lopez of the Angeles City Water District ( 4th from Interior and Local Government (DILG), Engr. Ernesto S. Gregorio, Jr., left). PWWA will host the 20th International Conference and Exhibition OIC-Director of the Rural Water Supply –CARP Project management on Water Resource Management, also known as PhilWater 2012 this Office of the Department of Public Works (DPWH), Engr. Rolando Grospe, October in Puerto Princesa City. Marcos also extol the success of the president of the Well Drillers Association of the Philippines (WELDAPHIL) country’s water districts whose institutionalization was made possible and PWWA immediate past president Atty. Daniel Fandino of the Calamba by Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended issued by his father, the late City Water District, as directors. President Ferdinand Marcos in 1973. Others in photo are (from left to Lopez said the PWWA is now calling on both local as well as right) Atty. Daniel Fandino, Engr. Antonio Magtibay, Norman Tatco, foreign water supply and sanitation and environmental experts for papers Engr,Eulogio Agatep, Ninia Lumauan, Engr. Rolando Grospe, Daniel to be presented during the technical session. He said the association has Landingin and Engr. Roger Borja. Also in photo is PWWA Office issued invitations to participants for the technical session as well as technical Manager Neneth Javier. News News News News News News News News News News News News News News News News News News LWUA RECEIVES P619.573 M GRANT FROM DOH The Local Water Utilities Administration recently received from the Department of Health (DOH) through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) a grant of P619.573 Million grant for the joint implementation of Potable Water Supply Program of the government pursuant to the MOA entered into by the aforementioned government agencies in March 2010. The P619.573 Million is part of the P1.5 Billion grant to LWUA to be released by the DOH through the DBM representing the second and final release of fund for the same purpose. The first tranche of P741.827 M was released last June 2011 which had been used for LWUA’s NonLWUA Initiative Fund or NLIF projects. Among the conditions stipulated in the release of the grant, LWUA is required to submit to the DOH a regular quarterly report on the status of project implementation and accomplishment and secure a final liquidation report and credit notice from the Regional Office of COA covering the total disbursements for the project. Some 72 water districts (WDs) will benefit from the P619.573 grant which will again be released through the NLIF program. The balance of P138.60 M from the P 1.5 B shall be utilized by the DOH for its “DOH Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat Program” as stipulated in the same MOA. WATER BOARD DIRECTOR OPPOSES ANGARA BILL Lucena City — a member of the board of directors of a government-owned and controlled water agency here expressed firm opposition to a Senate bill which allegedly proposes to privatize the operation of water districts in the country. Billy Andal, director of Quezon Metropolitan Water District (QMWD) servicing Pagbilao and the cities of Tayabas and Lucena, said Senate Bill 2997, authored by Sen. Edgardo Angara, would phase out water districts and lead to commercial operation of the water sector in the country. “Sa planong pribatisasyon, malaking pakinabang iyon para sa mga higanteng kompanya ng tubig tulad ng Maynilad at Manila Water sapagkat mabubuksan and pagkakataon para mamonopolisa ang negosyo sa tubig at kikita sila ng malaki,” said Andal, also a former Quezon provincial board member. The Angara bill would hike water rates for consumers from P12 to P30 per cubic meter once the water districts are run by Maynilad or Manila Water, according to Andal, who figured in an internal controversial issue among his fellow board of directors in the QMWD. “Walang magagawa at kawawa ang mga kunsomidores kahit magtaas man ng singil sa tubig buwan-buwan ang mga kompanya ni Ayala, Pangilinan, Tan at Consunji at gayan ang nararanasan ng mga Manilenyo ngayon,” said Andal, adding the big private companies have only profit as their motive in their move to penetrate the water sector unlike government-controlled water districts which aim for public service in the areas they operate. Andal called on the administration of President Benigno Aquino III to consider the plight of the ordinary citizens by extending financial assistance to water districts so as to improve the delivery of water services to water consumers. Andal lamented the fact that since the issuance by then President Ferdinand Marcos of his Presidential Decree 198 in 1973 which created the water districts in the country, the government has not provided a ‘single centavo’ to these water agencies. “Lumago ang water districts mula’t sapul sa sariling sikap, pawis, kasipagan at sakrispisyo ng mga kawani at namamahala dito. Tila mga anak ang water district na makaraang iluwal sa sanlibutan ay iniwan ng magulang na mabuhay at makatayo sa sarili,” Andal, who also owns several weekly community papers in Calabarzon region, said. During the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an alleged move for the privatization of water service delivery in areas outside Metro Manila was contained in her Exec. Order 279 she issued on Feb. 2, 2004 which aimed to institute reforms for local water utilities by rationalizing the operations of the Local Water Utilities Administration which provides development assistance to water districts. The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 25 News News News News News News News News News LWUA-JICA SMALL WATER DISTRICTS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have recently completed a seven-year technical cooperation partnership for the physical improvement of twenty small water districts and the training and provision of office equipment for thirty-four others for a total of 54 beneficiary water districts nationwide under the so-called Small Water Districts Improvement Project that was started way back in 2005. The Project has been funded by grant from the Japanese government with LWUA tasked with selecting the beneficiary water districts and providing counterpart experts and assistance in the institutional development of the water districts involved. Photo shows LWUA acting Administrator Eduardo Santos and JICA Senior Representative Sachiko Takeda shaking hands after signing the final joint committee report on the project at the LWUA office in Balara, Quezon City. The final report will be submitted to the JICA head office in Japan for final evaluation. POTABLE WATER FOR SASMUAN’S ISLAND BGYS. Potable water is now flowing from household taps of residents in the island barangays of Sebitanan and Malusac in the town of Sasmuan, Pampanga near the mouth of the Manila Bay through the efforts of the Sasmuan Water District with the financial and technical assistance from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). Photo shows Sasmuan Water District (SWD) General Manager Beda Carlos explaining to visiting staff from the LWUA Public Affairs Department led by division chief Teodoro Reynoso the operation of the pumping station and independent water system at Sebitanan. SWD plans to develop independent water systems in the three remaining Sasmuan island barangays of Batang l, Batang ll and Mabuwanbuwan which are also being eyed by the local authorities as fishing and aquaculture production centers and eco-torism site for annual bird-watching. 26 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 27 LWUA COMES TO AID OF NEGROS EARTHQUAKE-HIT WATER DISTRICTS. The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) immediately came to the assistance of water districts in the Negros provinces badly affected by the recent strong intensity 6.6 earthquake especially in the town of Ayungon which water pipeline network was cut by dispatching its mobile water treatment plant with a volunteer team from the agency’s armed forces-affiliated water batallion to operate the same and assist in water rationing. Photo shows LWUA Board Chairman Rene Villa and Administrator Eduardo Santos ( 3rd and 4th from right ) posing with members of the LWUA volunteer team led by Dr. Edison Cuenca (5th from left ) and some local government and water district officials NEW GUAGUA WATER DISTRICT OFFICE. Guagua , Pampanga Mayor Ricardo S. Rivera ( left ) and Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) acting Deputy Administrator for Area Operation, Engr. Edwin T. Ruiz (center) share the honor of leading the inauguration recently of the newly-completed office building of the Guagua Water District (GWD) which offers greater accessibility and convenience for its water concessionaires in payment of water bills and availing of the GWD services. The edifice is part of GWD’s continuing program to further improve and expand its service and operations in the delivery of potable water supply to the people of Guagua, Pampanga. Also in photo are GWD Board Chairman Mario Francisco Lapid and GWD General Manager Edgardo P. Rodriguez. News News News News News News News News News