The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has strongly denied allegations that it has been operating without a valid Water Safety Plan (WSP), clarifying that while its Department of Health certification expired in 2022, the safety plan itself remains actively implemented.
Certificate Lapse Versus Operational Safety
In an official statement released on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, MCWD General Manager Edgar Donoso explained the crucial distinction between the expired certificate and the ongoing implementation of their safety protocols. "What lapsed was the DOH certificate acknowledging the plan, not the plan itself," Donoso emphasized.
The water district responded to a Commission on Audit report cited in a November 14 Rappler article that highlighted MCWD had been supplying water without official DOH certification since late 2022. According to the report, MCWD's last DOH-approved WSP was from 2019 and had indeed lapsed in 2022.
Donoso assured Cebu residents that "MCWD has a Water Safety Plan that guides our operations every day" despite the administrative lapse in certification.
Updated Plan Achieves High Rating
MCWD revealed significant progress in rectifying the certification issue. The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has endorsed their updated Water Safety Plan to the Department of Health for final evaluation.
The updated WSP, submitted to LWUA in February 2025, achieved an impressive overall acceptance rating of 89.42 percent, indicating strong compliance with safety standards. MCWD now awaits the DOH's issuance of the new certificate to formalize this approval.
Challenges Behind Certification Delay
MCWD acknowledged that the certification delay resulted from multiple significant challenges. The water district cited three major setbacks that impacted their timeline:
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions created operational hurdles. Extensive rehabilitation works following the devastation of Typhoon Odette demanded resources and attention. Internal disruptions and tensions concerning the legality of its board of directors and senior officers further complicated matters.
Despite these challenges, MCWD maintained that its operations consistently adhered to safety and quality standards. The water district emphasized its compliance with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water and noted that its Water Quality Laboratory maintains accreditation under PNS ISO/IEC 17025:2017, an international standard ensuring testing accuracy and reliability.
MCWD currently serves more than 214,000 active connections across Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, and the municipalities of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Cordova.
