The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is currently operating without the legal authority to make critical decisions, severely hampering efforts to restore stable water supply in areas of Metro Cebu still reeling from the impact of Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi). The core issue is a non-functional board of directors, which lacks the minimum members required by law to pass resolutions or award contracts for urgent repairs and projects.
Legal Deadlock: Why the MCWD Board Cannot Act
The board is legally paralyzed because it cannot form a quorum. Presidential Decree (PD) 198, which governs local water districts, mandates that at least three members must be present to conduct official business. Currently, only two sitting directors are recognized: business sector representative Miguelito Pato and women’s sector representative Jodelyn May Seno.
This absence of a quorum means the utility is effectively stripped of its power to govern. A source within the operations confirmed that this renders the board "nonfunctional," blocking all major decisions. Specifically, the water district cannot:
- Pass necessary resolutions.
- Award contracts for emergency repairs or new infrastructure projects.
- Issue any policy directives required to ensure service continuity for consumers.
Root Causes of the Board Vacancies
The leadership vacuum stems from a combination of resignations, invalid appointments, and inactivity. The board's composition reveals the depth of the problem:
Civic Sector: This seat is vacant after representative Danilo Ortiz resigned effective October 1, 2025.
Professional Sector: This seat is also vacant. The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) declared the appointment of John Rey Saavedra invalid due to missing solicitation and nomination documents. Despite this ruling, Saavedra, along with Pato and Seno, reportedly held at least four board meetings in November 2025 after MCWD received LWUA's notification letter dated November 4 on November 28.
Education Sector: While representative Earl Bonachita remains listed, this seat is effectively inactive as he has not attended meetings since November 2023.
LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga has instructed MCWD to initiate formal solicitation processes to fill these vacancies, specifically citing the need to follow Section 12 of PD 198.
Mounting Pressure and Public Impact
The crisis has drawn direct intervention from Cebu City Hall. Mayor Nestor Archival wrote to board chairman Miguelito Pato on December 3, 2025, urging the immediate submission of nominees for the civic sector and the start of the process for the professional sector.
Archival emphasized that filling these seats is a critical step toward restoring stable water service. He noted that although civic groups met a November 30 deadline for nominations, no list had been sent to City Hall, which under PD 198 holds the appointing authority but cannot act without proper nominations.
The direct consequence for the public is a dangerous bottleneck in disaster recovery. With water supply still unstable after Typhoon Tino, MCWD's inability to act risks significant delays in:
- Executing emergency repairs to damaged infrastructure.
- Procuring essential materials and equipment.
- Approving any long-term plans to stabilize the system.
This standoff is not an isolated incident but part of a longer history of political tension surrounding MCWD's governance. The resolution is clear: until the vacancies are filled and a quorum is restored, the water district remains legally handcuffed, unable to execute the vital decisions needed to bring reliable water back to Metro Cebu.
