Friday, November 11, 2011
FORMER senator Butch Aquino, who chairs the Philippine Coop Center
(PCC), expressed support on the move to convert the Cagayan de Oro Water
District (COWD) into a cooperative.
Aquino, who guests the National Peace Forum at the Lim Ket Kai Atrium
in Cagayan de Oro Friday, said placing COWD under the umbrella of the
Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) would mean advantageous to the
water consumers.
COWD is currently under the supervision of the Local Water Utilities
Administration (LWUA) -- with organizational structure does not
recommend rights of the consumers to avail dividends and right of the
general assembly to appoint a general manager and board officials.
It was also learned that COWD board officials or the LWUA can appoint
a general manager to man the water provider. The city or town mayor
appoints the board chairman and board officials.
In a press conference held during the CDA-Northern Mindanao-hosted
forum, Aquino emphasized the need of COWD's conversion, as water rates
are possibly regulated and controlled by the general assembly and not
directly "maneuvered" by the management and the board officials for
"personal gains."
Should the move succeed, Aquino suggested that the First Community Cooperative (Ficco) may take over the operation of the COWD.
With almost P4.59 billion in assets, Ficco, he added, is a well
established and a stable cooperative that could effectively run the
general operation of the COWD including the technical aspect and the
regulation of water rates.
Supposing COWD is already converted, he said, the water provider's
customers enjoy lower charges due to the cooperative's privilege on tax
exemption that would bring in collection surplus which will then be
scheduled to be returned to the consumers in the form of patronage
refund. (Nicole J. Managbanag/Loui S. Maliza)
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