SIBALOM WATER DISTRICT PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE October 1, 2013 God is so good! God has indeed blessed Sibalom Water District! His name be glorified for guiding and watching over the water district for all these years! In this occasion of the 18th Anniversary of Operation of Sibalom Water District, we are very grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Sibalom. Thank you. On May 25, 1973, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed into law Presidential Decree 198 declaring a national policy favoring local operation and control of water systems, authorizing the formation of local water districts and providing for the government and administration of such districts; declaring a national administration to facilitate improvement of local water utilities; granting said administration such powers as are necessary to optimize public service from utility operations, and for other purposes. This decree replaced the defunct NAWASA and paved the way for the creation of autonomous water districts independent from, but a partner of, local government units. The theoretical purpose of having independent water districts is the lessoned learned from the defunct NAWASA that most municipal water systems then have failed or operated miserably. The municipal water systems then failed in the early 70s because of lack of maintenance and proper management. In fact there are still remnants of government water system projects in the municipality that have gone to waste. Examples are concrete reservoirs standing idle in the poblacion and several barangays. It was on May 29, 1982 that the Municipality of Sibalom under Mayor Edbert J. Lotilla and Vice Mayor Alex G. Siruelo that the Sangguniang Bayan of Sibalom passed Resolution No. 30, series of 1982, that affirms the creation of Sibalom Water District pursuant to Presidential Decree 198 as amended. The Sangguniang Bayan Members who unanimously approved the Resolution were; Hon. Gloria U. Opao, Hon. Victor R. Pagaduan, Hon. Mamerto N. Morales, Hon. Gregorio A de la Torre, Hon. Francisco A. Gersava, Jr., Hon. Felisa P. Valdellon, Hon. Agaton S. Grasparil, Hon. Maximino Otayde, and Hon. Ramon M. Aldemita. The first set of Board of Directors is composed of Engr. Maximiano Sentina, Mr. Benjamin Osunero Sr., Mr. Esteban Omadio, Mrs. Paz J. Lotilla, and Mr. Justino Sabug. Mr. Justino L. Sabug later on became the first General Manager of Sibalom Water District. The next years were spent on organizing the water district and securing a loan from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). LWUA is the government agency that is tasked to extend loans at an affordable rate to the water districts for the construction or improve of its facilities. LWUA evaluates the feasibility of the water districts before it approves their loan applications. Since the water districts has no subsidy from the government, it must operate on its own income. This set-up makes it distinctly different from the defunct NAWASA. While in the NAWASA, the government will spend money to put up a water system which most likely deteriorated in its services, in the present water district concept, the government will earn income from the loan it extended to the water districts and at the same time the government fulfills its obligation of providing potable water people especially on the countryside. In fact, Sibalom Water District has expanded its services to approximately more than ten times its original coverage area since its operation on October 1, 1995 and has hired additional personnel at standard DBM rates. This has contributed to the government’s objective of creating jobs for the people. Sibalom Water District was able to secure a P5.72 million loan from LWUA to construct its initial facilities. This loan covers the construction of a 170 ft. deepwell, pumping facilities, pipelines and labor. Sibalom Water District was able to save some amount that out of the P5.72 million loan allowed the water district, only around P5.0 million was utilized thus a saving of around P0.7 million. In September 25, 1994, the Board of Directors appointed Engr. Jonathan G. De Gracia as full-time General Manager taking over from Engr. Maximiano T. Sentina who effectively served the water district as Chairman of the Board and Acting General Manager at the same time. Construction of the initial facilities continued the following year. The construction phase of the water system was also encountering many challenges. Since the service area initially covered was only limited from the Menesses residence in District I, to the Market, and to the Fundamental Church in District IV. The water district encountered ridicule, angry words, pessimistic advices, and harsh criticisms. There was one time that a resident shouted at the water district workers, scolding them because of the inconveniences brought by the excavations of pipelines. Many people called the water district ‘luha’ meaning tears in subtle reference to the LWUA. Someone gave the opinion that the water district will never succeed and will never pay its loan amortization. While many were pessimistic, the water district took it as a challenge to prove the critics wrong. While there were critics, there were also who gave encouragement. There were people who pledged to support the water district. In spite of the negative reactions then of many people, the water district did not take it against them and instead took it as a challenged. As the saying goes; “our critics are the guardians of our soul”. The people who have been negative to the water districts are now friends and have service connections with the water district. Sibalom Water District started its operation on October 1, 1995 with just three hours a day of water service and practically no money for its operation. It has no reservoir at that time and has to pump water from the well directly to the service connections. Service hours were eventually lengthened until the construction of a 200 cubic meter concrete reservoir courtesy of the countryside development Fund (CDF) of Congressman Exequiel B. Javier. Congressman Javier also allocated P500,000.00 for the pipeline expansion towards Barangay Catmon and another P140,000.00 for the pipeline expansion towards Barangay Bari. Congressman Jovito C. Plameras also allocated P250,000.00 for the pipeline expansion towards the livestock area. Senator Loren Legarda allocated P350,000.00 for the construction of a Deepwell in Barangay Nagdayao. These has contributed to the stable operation of Sibalom Water District. A 250 cubic meter concrete reservoir in Brgy. Pasong will soon be operational courtesy of the Provincial Government under Governor Exequiel Javier. At the start of the operation on October 1, 1995, the water district has practically no money at hand. It has to pay the salaries of its employees and other operational expenses from the income it gets from its operation. The initial salaries of the employees were just 60% of the minimum standard DBM rate. Other government employees would sometimes joke that the salaries were much below that of the salary of janitors. The employees worked patiently and stuck it out looking at the brighter side. It was not long after that the water district was able to grant its employees the minimum standard pay that they so much deserved. The water district is governed by the Board of Directors. The Board sets the policy and regulations of the water district. The present Board of Directors are: Dir. Rudini E. Venegas – Chairman, Dir. Lolita M. Lotilla – Vice Chairman, Dir. Martha G. Osunero – Secretary, Dir. Hilario Q. Porca – Member, and Dir. Heidi N. Millamena – Member. Other persons who have served the water district as member of the Board of Directors were: Mrs. Asuncion Garcia, Mr. Abraham Abancio, Mr. Andres Pedro, Dr. Petronilo Rojo, Mr. Ambrosio Ramon Vego, Engr. Benjamin Osunero Jr., Mr. Monico O. Cervera, and Miss Mamerta Sermeno. In its 18 years of operation, the Sibalom Water District was able to put up three buildings out of its own income. In 1997, after two years and about 300 service connections, the water district was able to construct a 64 square meter office building. This was furnished with three airconditioners, four computers and other office equipments. In 1999, the water district was able to construct a two-room building for the kitchen and Board Room. In 2003, our Nagdayao Deepwell and Expansion was inaugurated with LWUA Administrator Larry Jamora as Guest of Honor. In 2004, the water district was able to construct a two-story building. In September 2008, a brand new 75 kva Generator Set was purchased and pipeline expansions towards barangays Alangan and Cubay-Napultan were undertaken. Recently, the water district was able to purchase its own concrete cutter, jack hammer with generator, and other equipments. The water district has just recently expanded to sitio Kasagingan, Cubay Napultan. Unlike some water districts, Sibalom Water District has no watershed area under its direct supervision. Usually, water districts with watershed under their direct supervision are water districts that use spring water as their source. Examples of water districts that have spring water sources and have watershed areas under their supervision are Tobias Fornier, Bugasong, and Barbaza. Although Sibalom Water District has no watershed under its direct supervision, it is actively involved in the protection and management of a bigger watershed; the Mau-it – Tipuluan Watershed Area. This watershed area was proclaimed by President Joseph Estrada in April 23, 2001 as the Sibalom Natural Park under the NIPAS Act. Sibalom is blessed with a very good waterhed area. Water is a global concern right now. The area served by the Sibalom Water District is quite challenging. It has four separate highly elevated areas namely; Bari (76 ft), Pasong (170 ft), Reservoir site (110 ft), and Sun Valley (70 ft.). This creates a problem in maintaining the water pressure in the said areas. The working pressure in the pumphouse must be not less than 50 psi. Even with such high pressure, some of these areas are experiencing low water pressures especially in Brgy. Bari. A new pumping station is now being worked out to address much of the problem. In the project proposal, a new pumping station will be constructed in District 1. The main pipeline must pass through brgy. Bari first and will go down the University of Antique area. This will solve the water pressure problem in the area once and for all. With the progressive and service oriented Board of Directors and the dedicated Staff of Sibalom Water District, the expansion of service areas and improvement of facilities will continue. Most of all, God’s blessings and guidance will ensure the success of Sibalom Water District.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 05:04:48 +0000
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