The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is currently functioning without a fully constituted Board of Directors, a situation that threatens its legal and operational stability. This critical information was confirmed by a source with direct knowledge of the matter who requested anonymity.
A Board Operating Below Legal Capacity
Under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 198, a water district is mandated to have a five-member board representing key sectors: business, civic, education, professional, and women's. However, MCWD now has only two actively serving directors, which is insufficient to form a quorum for official meetings and decision-making.
Danilo Ortiz, the civic sector representative, formally resigned effective October 1, 2025. Furthermore, Earl Bonachita, representing the education sector, has not attended board meetings since November 2023. The situation worsened when the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) invalidated the appointment of John Rey Saavedra to the professional sector due to incorrect processing of nomination documents.
Immediate Consequences and Official Demands
This leaves just two active board directors: Miguelito Pato (business sector) and Jodelyn May Seno (women's sector). A minimum of three members is required for a quorum to hold board meetings and authorize official actions, meaning the board is currently paralyzed.
In a letter dated December 3, 2025, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival formally requested MCWD Chairperson Miguelito Pato to immediately submit a list of nominees for the civic sector and begin the nomination process for the professional sector, as mandated by PD 198. The Mayor's office stressed the need for urgent action to prevent disruptions in water service delivery and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
"The timely submission of nominees for the vacant sectors is critical to maintain MCWD’s operations and uphold its mandate of efficient, reliable, and affordable service," Mayor Archival stated.
Path Forward and Regulatory Pressure
Concurrently, LWUA has directed MCWD to fill the now-vacant professional sector position following the invalidation of Saavedra's appointment, citing a lack of proper solicitation and nomination documents. The dual pressure from local and national authorities highlights the severity of the governance crisis.
The ongoing board deficit poses a significant risk to the utility's ability to make crucial decisions on water resource management, infrastructure projects, and tariff approvals. Stakeholders are now watching closely to see if MCWD management can swiftly execute the nomination processes to restore its governing body to full strength and ensure uninterrupted water services for Metro Cebu.
