MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has been operating without a valid Certificate of Water Safety Plan (WSP) Acceptance from the Department of Health (DOH) since September 25, 2022, a Commission on Audit (COA) report showed.
The last DOH-approved WSP held by the water district was issued on September 26, 2019. Since the certificate is valid for only three years, it lapsed in 2022.
This means the water district has been supplying water for about three years without official certification that it meets safety standards. The WSP is intended to identify and manage risks, prevent contamination, and ensure the safety of drinking water from source to tap.
The COA said a WSP must include a thorough risk assessment and a risk management plan to maintain consistent water safety, covering prevention, removal, and protection against recontamination during treatment, storage, distribution, and handling.
The MCWD attributed the delay in updating its WSP to lingering COVID-19 restrictions, which it said limited the movements and operations of government offices at that time.
The water district also cited the impact of Typhoon Odette (Rai), which it said required personnel and resources to focus on restoring services. However, records indicate the typhoon struck in December 2021, several months before the WSP’s expiry.
The MCWD also pointed out what it described as interference by the city government of Cebu in the composition of its board of directors, and earlier refusal by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to recognize its duly appointed board and general manager.
The COA report, released on October 22, noted that MCWD submitted its updated WSP to the LWUA only on February 3. Once reviewed, the LWUA will forward the plan to the DOH for approval.
By the first quarter of 2025, MCWD had 210,647 active service connections, spanning Cebu City, Talisay City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and the towns of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Cordova.
The audit called on MCWD management to tackle delays in preparing the WSP and ensure it is submitted promptly to both the LWUA and DOH. – Rappler.com