Duterte issues order reconstituting membership of LWUA board

In the order signed September 15, the LWUA board of trustees would be composed of a chairperson and four other members with the necessary skills and qualifications.

Repealed by the President was the ex officio designation of the secretaries of Finance, Public Works and Highways and Health departments in the LWUA board previously ordered by his predecessor.

“The other public responsibilities and equally important concerns being attended to by the current ex-officio members of the LWUA Board may hamper the timely and efficient performance of its functions,” the order read.

“Repealing the ex officio designation of the secretaries of Finance, Public Works and Highways, and Health, or their alternates, and reverting to the general qualifications of the members of the LWUA board under PD (Presidential Decree) 198, as amended, will ensure greater efficiency and strengthen the composition of the LWUA board,” it added.

Under the new EO, the President laid down several qualifications for the appointment of the LWUA board of trustees.

These are:

– One trustee shall have 10 years’ experience in banking, finance or business;

– One trustee shall possess sufficient background in the field of economics;

– One trustee shall have experience in management or system operations;

– Two trustees shall be civil or sanitary engineers with experience related to water supply or wastewater operations;

– Not more than one trustee may represent a private investor-owned utility;

Also, the EO stated that no elected official shall be entitled to act as a trustee while at least three of the
trustees must be government employees.

The LWUA general manager or administrator must also be elected by the board of trustees from among its ranks.

Pending the designation of the new LWUA board members, the Palace has allowed the three cabinet secretaries to continue to sit in the board to ensure continuous and unhampered operations.

LWUA, created by PD 198, is a specialized lending institution for the promotion, development and financing of local water supply systems in areas outside Metro Manila.