THE LEGACY: 35 YEARS OF PROTECTING NATURE AND SUSTAINING WATER SUPPLY

Sometime in August 1979, the Metropolitan Naga Water District(MNWD) was organized pursuant to Resolution No. 39, s. 1979 approved by the Naga City Council last June 9, 1979 and was granted the Conditional Certificate of Conformance (CCC) by the Local Water Utilities Administration in December 7 of the same year. Breathing its corporate life, the MNWD undertook its public responsibility with only 35 employees to service some 2,259 water service connections in Naga City and suburbs.

The first Board of Directors, as appointed by then City Mayor Vicent P. Sibulo, were composed by Atty. Mariano M. Sibulo representing the Professional Sector as Chairman; Mrs. Isabelita Lazaro representing the Women Sector as Treasurer and Secretary; the late Mr. Luis Recato Dy representing the Business Sector as Treasurer; and Fr. Jose Ma. Fuentes representing the Education Sector as Member, Engr. Jaime O. Fortuno was the first appointed General Manager.

Atty. Sibulo played a major role in the crafting of the MNWD Utility Rules and Regulations which became the standard operating procedure and the framework or foundation of the operations of the MNWD.

The year 1982 brought a new general manager to the water district in the person of the late Mr. Luis D. Basa. In said year until 1984, the MNWD undertook the 15.8M interim Improvement Project (IIP) Phase 1, with the Ateneo Pumping Station rehabilitated and some 6.055 kms. of transmission lines and 17.942 kms. f distribution line installed. Added to this was the installation of some gate valves for emergency repairs and proper distribution of water pressure. A modern water analysis laboratory was also constructed from said project fund.

With the implementation of the Interim Improvement Project in 1985-86, the system was expanded with the installation of additional 9.76 kms. distribution pipeline and rehabilitation of Anayan and Rumangrap Springs. In 1985, the San Felipe I Pumping Station was constructed as additional water source of the MNWDF to meet the increasing demand for water by its service area. This was followed by the construction of San Felipe II and Villa Sorabella I Pumping Stations in 1993; Mabolo and Capilihan Pumping Stations in 1994; Sitio Magdalena Pumping Stations in 1995 and the San Felipe III and Sta. Lucia Pumping Statin in 1997, the last two pumping stations being part of the unfinished Php 142.5M ADB-assisted Municipal Water System Improvement Project (MWSIP).

The onslaught to the water supply brought bu the long dry spell of the El Niño phenomenon between the last quarter of 1997 until the 3rd quarter of 1998 compelled the MNWD to explore for more water sources and constructed two more exploratory production wells at Villa Sorabell Subdivision at Brgy. Concepcion Grande and Brgy. Cararayan, and another pumping station in Brgy. Pacol. The year 1999 also saw the completion of the one more production well in Brgy. Carolina and another pumping station in Brgy. Del Rosario.

With the transfer of the MNWD water supply from the MWSIP to the Php 40M ADB-LWUA Small Towns Water Supply Sector Project (STWSSP) in 2002, the MNWD constructed four more production well in Brgys. San Isidro, Cararayan and Pacol, all withing Naga City and Brgy. Carangcang, Municipality of Magarao, bringing a total of 16 operational pumping stations in a row.

The roadmap towards sustainable development became the policy directions footprint of the succeeding leadership of the Board of Directors of MNWD under the chairmanship of Mrs. Eulalia G. Molina in 1991 to 1992, the late Msgr. Alberto N. Nero in 1993 to 1998, Mr. Jesus J. Hernandez in 1999 to 2006, Dr. Ferdinand Martin D. Zantua in 2007 to 2008 up to the incumbent chairman Fortunato P. Mendoza.

Significant improvements have been realized since the organization of MNWD way back thirty-five years ago, 1979. To date, the MNWD covered a total of 41,353 active service connections with an estimated 206,050 population as of October 2014, efficiently being served by its 139 permanent and 40 casual employees as of October 2014.

As its operation continue to expand, the MNWD is now operating three (3) spring water source with two (2) more undergoing development and twenty-five (25) operational pumping stations.

A total of 90 kms. of transmission lines and 5,496 kms. of distribution/ lateral lines were already installed as of this date.

NRW Team/Leak Repairs/Equipment

The importance of watershed areas in the sustainability of our water resources is equally an important concern. Mt. Isarog Natural Park (MINP) is the main source of potable water supply of the MNWD and various highly populated surrounding communities like the municipalities of Pili, Calabanga, Tinambec, Goa, Tigaon and Ocampo especially the MNWD service coverage.

The two (2) spring water sources of the MNWD, Rumangrap and Anayan, produces a combined output of 225 lps. (per 1989 Production Data) – about 75% of the average water-production capacity of the District. Due to the unaltered deforestation trend by 1991, the combined spring output slipped down to 147 lps. Last 1993’s production data showed an all-time low of 59 lps.

It was during the same period that the financial resources of MNWD was at its all-time low, but with the intervention of the late Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, the MNWD became one of the recipients of the Comprehensive Improvement Project (CIP) of the National Government. On the early part of 1993, a Rapid Rural Assessment (RRA) was conducted covering the catchment areas of the two (2) springs inside MINP. Results thereof revealed that 60% of the Watershed Area has been opened to agricultural cultivation by 81 Park Occupants, 47 of which are actually residing inside.

This scenario prompted the MNWD thru the effort of the then General Manager Job D. Praxidio Jr., to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last August 20, 1993 for the rehabilitation, management and protection of the Anayan-Rumangrap Watershed Area.

During the 2nd Quarter of 1994, the MNWD concluded another Memorandum of Agreement with PLAN International-Bicol and the Rotary Club of Naga for the rehabilitation and development of a portion of the watershed area including alternative livelihood opportunities for the Park Occupants targeted for resettlement.

This joint undertaking called WATER FOR NAGA PROJECT (WNP) carried with it substantial financial resources and provisions for community development of former park settlers within the affected part of Mt. Isarog. During the later part of the same quarter, the MNWD was selected by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) as one of the pilot water districts which iniated the latter’s nationwide watershed development campaign called PROJECT EVERGREEN.

Notwithstanding the logic of utilizing underground water sources through the construction of production wells, tapping, and developing the extant spring water sources at Mount Isarog is still the most economically viable approach to the provision of affordable water supply.

Conceptualization of the MNWD Administrative Building and partial implementation of the same using internally generated funds became a reality sometime in 1997 through the leadership of then General Manager Job D. Praxido Jr.

Another Memorandum of Agreement was forged by and between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and MNWD last November 23, 2005 for the 356 hectares watershed area of Kalinisan-Nabuntulan Springs in Panicuason, Naga City and within the Mt. Isarog Natural Park, after the said water sources were developed utilizing funds from former Senator Raul S. Roco and turned over by LGU-Naga to MNWD for operation and maintenance.

Sustainable management and protection of our water resources will ensure water at the right quality with the right quantity and at the right time. This principle became the battle-cry of the former General Manager Rey C. Reyes with environmental goals fully integrated and aligned with the MNWD’s mission to serve the water consuming public.

In 2009, a pre-feasibility study for the proposed septage management project was prepared in compliance with the Clean Water Act of 2004 and was submitted to the Local Initiatives for Affordable Waste water (LINAW) Project of the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) for possible grant funding and technical assistance.

During the same year, four (4) Subdivisions were interconnected to the MNWD transmission line, namely: Paz Village, San Felipe, Camella Phase 1, Del Rosario, Park View Executive Town Homes, San Felipe, and St. Jude Orchard, Concepcion Grande, all of Naga City. To date, a total of thirty-five (35) subdivisions were interconnected to the MNWD water supply network enjoying twenty-four hours and seven days a week of clean, safe, and potable water.

It is noteworthy to report that the major final outputs and performance indicators in relation to water facility and distribution service management were satisfactorily delivered by MNWD for the past years. Accessibility, reliability, and adequacy of clean, safe, and potable water at the most affordable rates remains an on-going commitment towards sustainable development of the MNWD. Inspite of financial constraints, no water increase was implemented by MNWD since 2009, however, on-time payment of loan amortization remained to be of primordial consideration during annual budget preparations.

For the year 2010, preparatory activities of the proposed waste water treatment facility and related structures project were undertaken. The Initial Environment Examination (IEE) for the said project was prepared after the public consultation conducted at Sitio Caromatig, Barangay Carolina, Naga City.

On-going coordination and orientation with the City of Naga and adjoining municipalities for the establishment of a waste water management ordinance is being conducted to thoroughly fulfill the local-wide septage management support of the local government units in the implementation of the Clean Water Act of 2004.

The Canaman 400 cubic meters (m3) Ground Reservoir at San Agustin, Canaman, Camarines Sur was completed last 2012, while an adjacent 600 cubic meters (m3) ground reservoir is on-going construction on the same site to augment the water supply in the Municipality of Canaman, Camarines Sur. The second 400 cubic meters (m3) ground reservoir was completed during the year 2013 at Mabolo, Naga City to balance the pressure and increase water supply at the Municipality of Gainza, Camarines Sur.

As part of the celebration of the 33rd Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) National Convention last February 10, 2012 which was held in Cebu City, a search was launched and MNWD was awarded as the Best Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP).

The MNWD submitted a 27 minute video presentation in DVD format and three (3) printed IWMP. It required all water districts as being service oriented entities to participate in the said contest as it showcases the highlights, implemented and on-going projects including relevant features of their respective watershed areas.

Likewise this paved way for the MNWD to join and be awarded as the Bayaning Kawani Group Category of the Civil Service Commission Region V- Regional Awards Program for Bayaning Kawani 2012 last September 21, 2012 at Legaspi City.

Several awards, citation, and certificates became visible manifestation of the MNWD’s commendable performance in the delivery of its basic services and its corporate social responsibilities.

MNWD hosted the 8th Annual National Convention of the Water Environment Association of the Philippines (WEAP) last July 25-26, 2013 at the Villa Caceres Hotel, Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City under the theme, “Water Resources Management: A Cornerstone in Environmental Protection”.

The Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Echo Seminar was conducted in four (4) batches for key personnel involved in water production, billing, operation, and maintenance of MNWD last March 5, 12, 19, AND 26 2013. Leak detection instrumentation, tools, and machinery were procured to ensure the reduction of wastage of valuable water. Computerization of billing and intensified mobile collection, electronic meter reading including computerization of office procedures were instituted to minimize if not eliminate commercial losses brought about by human interventions and inaccuracies.

Non-Revenue Water (NRW) averaged at 18% for the last nine (9) months of the current year.

Partnership with LGUs likewise plays an important role in the development of current and future projects for the MNWD. Waterlines, water sources, reservoirs, and other water-related concerns will never be realized without the enabling environment and support of concerned LGUs. Far-flung barangays with no waterlines within the MNWD service coverage and affected areas during calamitous events are being served by two (2) 10-cubic meter stainless lorry trucks procured for the purpose.

Water quality and ensuring public health is likewise a continuing program of the MNWD. The MNWD Laboratory was the first in Bicol Region, servicing region-wide, as accredited by the Department of Health per Certificate of Accreditation No. 178 dated June 28, 2003.

We fervently feel that sustainable development initiatives will help build sustainable communities and improve the quality of life of the residents of the City of Naga and the Municipalities of Magarao, Canaman, Gainza, and Camaligan Camarines Sur.

Let Us All Do Our Share.