SUPPORT and cooperation—this was the crystal-clear reaction of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr’s directive for the Local Water Utilities Administrations (LWUA) to fix the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD), even if it means taking over the water district’s operations due to its issues with water distribution in the city.

Mayor Uy also urged Kagay-anons to trust the law while the local government works on solving their water problems.

However, despite President Marcos’ direct order and Mayor Uy’s expressed support and cooperation, the blatant lack of support and cooperation from COWD, especially its suspended officials, is just as clear.

The suspended COWD officials strongly opposed LWUA’s takeover. It seems they questioned everything possible just to stop the temporary takeover.

Could it be that these suspended officials have management failures or shady dealings that they’re afraid LWUA’s investigation might uncover?

LWUA Chairman Ronnie Ong himself revealed in a TV interview what the Commission on Audit discovered about COWD’s management, such as losses amounting to P5.2 billion from 2018 to 2021, high non-revenue water levels despite funding to fix it, and other irregularities.

The suspended COWD officials also reportedly haven’t been cooperating properly in LWUA’s meetings to resolve the issues.

According to Ong, these irregularities are the reason why the suspended officials, especially the suspended GM Antonio Young, are desperately blocking LWUA’s intervention.

He even mentioned that one of Young’s questionable actions was ransacking the interim board’s office.

In the end, Ong emphasized that LWUA is the direct regulator of COWD, so he’s puzzled by the suspended officials’ non-compliance. He stated that the interim board’s purpose is to fix COWD’s problems, not to cause trouble.

It’s also curious that just recently, Mayor Uy urged the nullification of the joint venture contract between Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water, Inc (Cobi) and COWD, which he said is the solution to the ongoing water supply conflict.

Wait a minute—I thought we were supposed to trust the law?

So why is Mayor Uy calling for the nullification of the Cobi-COWD contract? He knows that COWD is still under investigation and that due process is needed in matters like this, which is why LWUA put an interim board in place.

It seems like the Mayor is contradicting his own statement of support and cooperation with President Marcos’ directive.

These suspended officials have been repeatedly reported to be close to Mayor Uy, almost like followers reporting to their leader.

Why doesn’t Mayor Uy just directly tell these suspended officials to follow his statement of support and cooperation?

With all this opposing and clinging to him, Mayor Uy might end up being seen as two-faced. On one side, there’s support and cooperation. On the other, there’s enabling non-compliance with President Marcos’ orders.

Mayor Uy, there are many people who think maliciously. The endless opposition from the suspended officials to LWUA’s efforts to resolve the issue, their close association with you, and your failure to advise them to follow your statement of support and cooperation—people might start thinking you’re in cahoots with them if any shady dealings are indeed discovered in their management of COWD.

Concerned water consumer