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SEPTEMBER 24-30, 2013 VOLUME 2, ISSUE No. 29

MKWD’S NEW HOME

The

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MKWD MARKS 37TH YEAR OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE; INAUGURATES NEW BUILDING

A LL ROA DS lead to the inauguration of the newly- constructed

Administration Building of the Metro Kalibo Water District as it celebrates

its 37th Founding Anniversary on September 28, (Saturday) 2013,

according to Edgar Isada, general manager of the MKWD.

| Story on Page 05

A K L A N

PROGRAM SCHEDULES 4-5AM : TODO BALITA

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Ang bagong Radyo ng Bayan

Old MKWD Building

For more information like and follow us on /boracayinformer /RadyoTodo885FmTwo from Barangay Manika, Libacao, on the other hand, have died from the disease due to complications from

pneumonia.

B e s i d e s p n e u m o n i a

complications, Cuachon also warned

against ear infection, blindness and

loose-bowel movements resulting

from measles.

Presently, provi ncial health

officials are strictly implementing

preventive and control measures for

A

WESTERN VISAYAS INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 24-30, 2013

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 29 WWW.BORACAYINFORMER.COM 05

MKWD MARKS 37TH YEAR OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE; INAUGURATES NEW BUILDING

MKWD’S NEW HOME

Waiting Area

Text and Photos by RECTO IMPERIAL VIDAL

LL ROADS lead to the inauguration of

the newly-constructed Administration

Building of the Metro Kalibo Water

District as it celebrates its 37th Founding

Anniversary on September 28, (Saturday) 2013,

according to Edgar Isada, general manager of the

MKWD.

Meanwhile, Eduardo C.

Santos, acting administrator

of the LW UA lauded the

MKWD for “rightfully earned

a niche in the community for

eff iciently providing safe,

clean, and affordable water

supply to the municipalit ies

of Kalibo, New Washington,

For h i s p a r t , l aw ye r

Ed mu nd Peralt a , M KW D

chair man, an nounced that

effective September 30, 2013,

Metro Kalibo Water District

will hold off ice on its new

building located at Cardinal L.

Sin Avenue (formerly Quezon

Avenue) A ndagao, Kalibo,

Aklan.

Over the past 37 years, the

MKWD has emerged from a

budding water district with

about 400 active connections

in 1976 to its present premier

position as one of the Most

Outstanding Water Districts

on a national level, with nearly

21,000 active concessionaires

covering the capital town of

Kalibo and the adjacent towns

of New Washington, Banga

and Balete, Rene C. Villa,

chairman of the Local Water

Utilities Administration, said

in his message.

T h i s i s a c l e a r

manifestation of MKWD’s

c o nt i n u i n g c o m m i t m e nt

to prov ide safe, rel iable,

sustainable and affordable

water supply ser v ices to

all communities within its

territorial jurisdiction, Villa

averred.

T he LW UA chai r also

c a ut i o n e d M KW D “ no t

however rest on our past glories

and achievements. Instead, let

us roll our collective sleeves

and adopt continuing plans

and prog rams to improve

efficiency and develop new

sources of water to ensure

sustainable access to improved

water supply services amidst

adverse climatic changes and

the for midable challenges

of populat ion g row th and

a c c e l e r a t e d e c o n o m i c

development.”

Vi l l a a ls o e x p re ss e d

confidence that the recognized

skills and capabilities of the

men and women behind the

MKWD, the district should

be able to maintain its premier

posit ion a nd at t ai n even

greater heights in the coming

years.

Banga and Balete, thereby

inf luencing the social and

economic advancement not

only in this towns but in the

entire province of Aklan as

well.”

A s g at ew ay t o t h e

cou nt r y’s popu la r tou r ist

dest i nat ions, a nd as host

to thousands of local and

foreig n v isitor s endea red

by the colorful and vibrant

cult ure of A klanons, “ the

MKWD has been performing

beyond par in assuring that

no one gets thirsty and that

there is more than enough

water for everyone, residents

or transients alike,” Santos

enthused.

He added t hat LW UA

h a s t a k e n p r i d e i n

MKWD’s achievements and

undertakings for “we share a

common vision and idealism:

to be an instrument in helping

build a better and stronger

Nation.”

Teller's Booth

Administrative Office

Division Office

T

B

06 OPINION EDITORIAL

WWW.BORACAYINFORMER.COM SEPTEMBER 24-30, 2013 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 29 WESTERN VISAYAS INFORMER

37 Years of Service Excellence

HE ORIGINAL Water Supply system of Kalibo was constructed in 1960 by the Department of Public Works and Highways. The system started to operate under the management of the now defunct National Water Works and Sewerage Administration

(NAWASA) until 1976. The Sangguniang Bayan of Kalibo passed Resolution No. 15 dated July 29, 1976 forming the Kalibo Water District pursuant to Presidential Decree 198 known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973. On Sep¬tember 8, 1976, a five-member board was created composed of representatives from different sectors of societ y. It was then that Kalibo Water District was formally organized.

On September 13, 1991 “Davao Cit y Water District, et al vs CSC and COA” was promulgated and said decision declared all Local Water Districts as Government-Owned-or-Controlled-Corporations (GOCC). As such Kalibo Water District was then subject to Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Commission on Audit (COA), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Civil Ser-vice Commission (CSC) rules and regulations.

On March 2002 the Kalibo Water District was renamed Metro Kalibo Water District with the expansion of its service coverage area to the municipalities of New Washington and Banga. On August 2003, Metro Kalibo Water District was re-categorized from Big to Large Water District by LWUA. In the last decade MK WD has further annexed the Municipalit y of Balete and portions of Batan. From 397 connections, MK WD as of July 2013 serves some 20,968 active water service connections in the province of Aklan.

MK WD’s water supply comes from six deep wells with a total rated capacit y of 325 lps including four reservoirs. MK WD in the past few years has engaged in the supply of bulk water, with Numancia Water District as its newest client with the Interconnection of the Php 4.6 million Kalibo- Numancia Bridge Crossing last July of 2012. To support the continuous expansion of its network the District has implemented the Cnstruction of a 1,000cu. m Steel Tank at Estancia, Kalibo which is now nearing completion.

With the exemplary service and utmost dedication provided by 152 competitive and dynamic pro-fessionals (92 of whom are permanent) the MK WD has been conferred several awards through the years, namely:

OUTSTANDING WATER DISTRICT AWARD

Large Category, Bicol-Visayas Year 2006

NOMINEE, OUTSTANDING WATER DISTRICT Large Category, Nationwide, Year 2006

OUTSTANDING WATER DISTRICT AWARD Large Category, Nationwide & Bicol-Visayas

Year 2005 SPECIAL AWARDS FOR THE YEAR 2006

•High Collection Efficiency •Low Operating Ratio

OUTSTANDING WATER DISTRICT AWARD YEAR 2003 Large Category, Nationwide & Bicol-Visayas

FOOTSTEPS

Public persons and incovenient

livesAs a result of these exceptional services and outstanding

accomplishments the Metro Kalibo Water District on its 37th Year Anniversary dedicates the Inauguration of the new MK WD Of¬fice Building at Barangay Andagao, Kalibo to its beloved concessionaires. A testament of the re¬solve of every MK WD personnel that “We do Care in providing dignified and ideal public service.”

Western Visayas (Boracay) Informer is published by HMV Multimedia Productions, Inc. with main business of f ice at Ma ng g ay ad Ma i n Road, Br g y. Ma noc-ma noc , Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines.

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Publisher

Jonathan Cabrera, General Manager

Lilia dela Cruz, Operations Manager

Recto Vidal, Editor-in-Chief

Karen Bermejo, Feature Editor

Gilbroun Quinicio, Managing Director Kent

Jufre Taborda, Layout & Graphics Editor Atty.

Selwyn Ibarreta, Legal Consultant

Columnists & Contributors: Megs Lunn, Atty. Ronquillo Tolentino, Odon Bandiola, Recto

Vidal, Narciso Dionson, Maria Solita Zaldivar-Guzman

Jason Pelayo, Boracay Circulation Staff Randy Tolentino, Kalibo Circulation Staff

Nikie Cahilig, Malay Cirulation Staff

Marketing Executives: Ruziell Sto. Tomas, Valerie Ann Sigaya, Jean Regidor,

Florenda Tubi, Rory Merino

Mardy Cabrera, Billing & Collection

Central Office : Manggayad Main Road, Manoc-manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan

Tel. No. (036) 288-2418 (Operations & Marketing)

Numancia Office: 2nd Floor S0-PURE Multi-business Center, Punta tulay, Bulwang, Numancia, Aklan

Iloilo Bureau: Suite 1, 3rd Floor Cristina Colonnade Corner Huervana, Rizal St., Brg y Laguda, La Paz, Iloilo Cit y

Bacolod Bureau: A-1 Esteban-Magdalena Building Hernandez-Locsin Sts. Bacolod Cit y

Antique Bureau: 2nd Floor MB Bldg., T. Fornier St., San Jose, Antique

Capiz Bureau: Mercedez Homes, Dayao, Roxas Cit y

Manila Office: Suite 505 Cit y Land Shaw. Tower begun. Wack-wack, Mandaluyong Cit y. Phone # 425-7577

Email: theinformerboracay@yahoo.com We b : w w w. b o r a c a y i n f o r m e r. c o m

Narciso Dionson

ACK I N the nineties

it was com mon joke

among pastors that if

there was a traffic jam,

chances are it was caused by a

minister’s malfunctioning vehicle.

It brings to mind a jeepney bought

by our congregation. It was a

hybrid, meaning its junk engine

was attached to a junk chassis, and

so decrepit somebody remarked,

“Pagbantay lang pastor. Kon dili

ka mamatay sa aksidente, mamatay

ka sa kaulaw.” Just be careful,

this car will either kill you in an

accident or out of embarrassment.

Driven only at night, we called it

“The Night Rider.”

Tod ay, than k God , many

pastors’ lives have improved and

with it go the privilege of owning

a brand new car. But then here

comes the killjoy. Pope Francis,

pastor of the largest Church in

the world is driving around the

Vatican with a thir ty year old

Renault. Suddenly it is no longer

hip to drive with the latest model

Toyota! If I know pastors they’ll

be quick to defend themselves. For

of course Francis is also privileged

– with a papal mechanic!

But as a retired pastor who has

never owned a personal car, and

who, like the priest who donated

the Renault, has worked among

squatter communities, I think I

can understand what is going on

in the mind of Francis. For if you

are a servant of the people, there is nothing like the car to put an

invisible wall between you and the

people you serve.

Let me give you an example. If

I have a car it takes less than five

minutes from the barbershop to

our house. But without a car of my

own and having to depend upon

tricycles and jeepneys and other

conveyances, Einstein’s theory of

relativity of space and time kicks

in. As I cross the street and wait

for a tricycle the five minutes may

stretch to fifteen or even thirty

minutes. W hy? Because the

tricycles are all at D’Mall where

there are tourists giving them

more money per ride. Finally a

tricycle comes along and I ride at

the back. I am tall, and the roof

of the tricycle is low so I have

to hunch. The woman across me,

fidgets. She thinks I am looking at

her knee. Suddenly I get a painful

knock in the head. Not from the

woman! The tricycle lurches to

avoid a pothole and the steel frame

of the sidecar hits my head. Then

someone remarks, “Why has it

taken so long for this short road to

be repaired?” A question nobody

answers.

Walking has its own hazards,

too. I get splashed with dir ty

f lood water. I get to in hale

exhaust smoke from vehicles that

are supposed to have passed the

smoke test conducted in Kalibo.

Worst of all, I could get sideswiped

because the sidewalk is occupied

by a parking truck, or I walk on

the side of the road that does not have a sidewalk, or the sidewalk is

too narrow.

Now, all of the inconveniences

and dangers that ordinary citizens

go through – all these are denied

to a public official who rides an

air-conditioned, tinted-window

car. His skin does not get splashed

with sewer water. His nostrils

are not assaulted by acrid smoke

from “smokeless” vehicles. He

does not see garbage piling up

on the sidewalk. His body is

not battered as it passes through

poorly constructed roads in rickety

conveyances. He might as well

live in a plastic bubble, sealed and

protected from the tribulations

of his constituency or from the

consequences of ill conceived

and poorly executed government

decisions. He does not see, does

not feel and does not understand.

He does not hear from ordinary

people, only from advisers who

sanitize raw information before it

reaches his ears. For he drives too

fast. He does not experience life in

the same speed as his people.

There ought to be a “Come-

live-with-us” day for all public

and religious and business officials.

Hey guys, life a life! Live it with

us so you do not make decisions

for us but with us.

I k now Francis did an act

difficult to follow. Some day the

Renault will pass from being a

vintage to a relic so that whoever

succeeds Francis will not have to

inherit his inconvenient life.

T

WESTERN VISAYAS INFORMER SEPTEMBER 24-30, 2013 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 29 WWW.BORACAYINFORMER.COM OPINION 07Everything MKWD does must serve the well- being of its real boss: the average Aklanon

Recto Vidal

COUNTER

POINT

the indomitable spirit of its board

members led by its chairman Atty.

Edmund Peralta.

No sm a l l wonde r t h at t he

m a n a g e me n t t e a m h a s b e e n

character ized as success-d r iven,

and adjust to changing times, and

in the process gained a string of

recognition nationwide.

Just like any other organization,

the MKWD has undergone through

various challenges. It has however

preservation of Aklan’s watershed

areas and its yearly bloodletting

activities.

Along t h is li ne, t h is cor ner

g ratef ully recog n izes M KW D’s

invaluable service it provides for

synergistic development.

U lt i m at ely, t h is sy ne rg ist ic

partnership is capable of achieving

more together than we would ever

have been able to do working in

isolation.HE ME N a nd wom e n

comprising the Metro Kalibo

Wat e r D ist r ict mu st b e

beaming with pride as they

celebrate MKWD’s 37th founding

A n niversar y. With good reason,

for marking 37 years of ser vice

excellence is no mean feat.

Led by its general manager Edgar

Isada, the M KW D management

attributes its growth and success to its

legacy of excellence as its operations

is further bolstered and enhanced by

result-oriented and persevering.

I n me d ia i nt e r v iews, Isa d a

bared that the MKWD is focused

on attaining its objectives, mission

and vision, which are not centered

only on its concessionaires but

geared as well towards the welfare

of its employees, the protection of the

environment, giving the best service

it can offer to its clientele.

For his par t, Peralta credited

MKWD’s success on its resilience

and legacy of excellence to compete

surmounted these and has emerged

relatively unscathed as it takes pride

in its highly trained, competent and

dependable staff with long years of

experience.

Above all, MKWD acknowledges

its blessings from God Almighty

who tirelessly provides His guidance

and wisdom.

T h u s M K W D s h a r e s i t s

blessings through corporate social

r e s p o n si bi l it y c a m p a ig n s a n d

programs like the protection and

the benef it of our people. We all

know how the MKWD had greatly

cont r ibuted to ma ke t he water

industry more robust and progressive

as it is. And we can attest to the

strides it has and it is making.

Amidst the challenges MKWD

encounter in the water sector, its

partnership with its concessionaires

remains cr ucial and integ ral in

establishing necessary systems and

facilities and in strengthening its

programs and policies towards a

We know that the work MKWD

do today will usher in a new age, a

brighter future as it is committed in

contributing to the socio-economic

development of the province.

That’s why MKWD out its heart

in doing what it does best: serve the

Aklanons by providing safe, reliable

and efficient water services.

Thus we look forward to a more

resilient MKWD, which is steadfast

in its operations and drive to reach

further success.

K

WESTERN VISAYAS INFORMER OCTOBER 8-14, 2013 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 31 WWW.BORACAYINFORMER.COM 05

Lachica welcomes P50M Septage Treatment Plant

MKWD transfers to new home Villa, Haresco, Quimpo, SP Members grace blessing and inauguration

K A L I B O , A K L A N - M a y o r

William Lachica has responded

positively to a proposal made by

an investor for this capital town

to operate a fully mechani zed

sept age t reat ment faci l it y i n

order to showcase the readiness

of the private sector to respond to

the challenge of the government

to help clean up and protect this

municipality’s water source. “This will help attract more investors

and help pump prime the local economy

with revenues coming from annual taxes

that this firm is expected to pay estimated

to reach half a million pesos,” Lachica said.

What’s more, the Kalibo mayor added

that the water wastes derived from the septic

tanks will be reused for gardens, ponds,

irrigation and for industrial purposes. The

sludge, on the other hand, will be recycled

into compost, soil conditioner, fertilizers

and for landfill purposes.

T he pla nt, built a nd operated by

Envirokonsult Equipment and Ser vices

Inc., is expected to service communities in

Kalibo and its neighboring municipalities,

Anthony Vizcar ra Gedang, the f ir ms’s

President and CEO, told Lachica during

By RECTO IMPERIAL VIDAL

a recent courtesy call at the latter’s office.

I n an inter view, Gedang told the

Informer that his firm Envirokonsult will

handle collection of septage from septic

tanks and the treatment of waste water to

acceptable levels of water classification for

re-use or before release to bodies of waters

such as rivers and streams.

Roberto Lastimoso, country manager

of Envirokonsult, added that said venture is

aligned with the program of Envirokonsult,

the country’s leading supplier of desludging

tr ucks and septage-handling equipment.

The company is expanding the scope of its

services to include the construction and

operation of f ully mechanized septage

treatment plants for local government units

and water districts outside Metro Manila.

It i s t he f i r s t c om p a ny i n t he

Philippines to be issued by the Department

of Health with an Environmental Sanitation

Clearance.

The objective of EnviroKonsult, a

desludging service contractor of Manila

Water Co. and vacuum water supplier of the

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage

System, Maynilad Water Ser vices, and

Manila Water, is to assist local government

units and water districts comply with

the provisions of the Clean Water Act

of 2004.

In an interview with Radyo Todo,

Lachica disclosed that the P50 million

plant will be located in a 1,400 square

meter property. The facility is enclosed

with a tiny valve opening, just enough

to allow the hose from the vacuum

tr uck to serve as conduit leading to

an enclosed receptacle to ensure an

odor-free environment. Aside from

mechanical operators and filters, plant

operators also introduce environment-

f r ie nd ly biolog ical e n z y me s t hat

convert waste water into odor-free and

environmentally-safe water.

Gedang told the local media that

the actual plant needs only 1,400 square

meters to house the fully mechanized

facility, office building, and parking lot.

The rest of the property is designed to

look like a mini-park with an open

space for a large collection of bonsai

plants and ornamental fishpond.

“We’re espousing a clean and green

environment, said Anthony Vizcarra

Gedang, president and chief executive

officer of EnviroKonsult.

To Page 09

By ODON S. BANDIOLA

A LI BO, A k la n.

T h e B o a r d

o f D i re c t o r s ,

management and staff and

employees of the Metro

K alibo Water Dist r ict

had officially transferred

from its rented office at C.

Laserna Street here to its

own new, sprawling and

elegant 4 -storey home

at Ba r a ngay A nd agao

t h is Mu n icipalit y last

Saturday, September 28.

T he ble s si ng a nd

inauguration of the new

M KW D bu ild i ng wa s

graced with the presence

of no less than the Chairman of the Local

Water Utilities Administration, lawyer Rene

C. Villa, Congressman Teodorico T. Haresco,

Jr. of the Lone Dist r ict of A klan, Vice

Govenor Gabrielle V. Calizo – Quimpo and

Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Plaridel

M. Morania, Harry C. Sucgang and Lillian

Q. Tirol, together with MKWD Chairman of

the Board, lawyer Edmund M. Peralta and

MKWD General Manager Edgar Isada, staff

and employees.

The lot and the new building in Barangay

Andagao costs the MKWD some P47 million

and the edifice was completed after 15 months

since construction started.

The project costs was sou rced f rom

M K W D’s a c c u m u l a t e d s av i n g s f r o m

operation.

MKWD is already classified by LWUA

as a Category B water district.

It serves the whole capital town of Kalibo,

the adjoining tow ns of Banga and New

Washington, extending up to Balete town

and some Barangays in Batan.

MKWD has already a total of 20,968

concessionaries within its serviced area and

is expected to expand further its serviced area

to neighboring towns of Aklan.

Peralta dedicated the new edifice to its

employees and staff and the thousands of its

concessionaries.

Villa and Haresco lauded MKWD board

and management for the phenomenal growth

and stability of the water district and assured

their continued support to the water utility

firm.

On the other hand, Quimpo told those

attending the inauguration that the weekend

was providential to Aklan and the Aklanons.

According to her, over the weekend, the

A klan Credit Suret y Fund was for mally

launched by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

to benefit Aklan’s micro, small and medium

entrepreneurs. She said it was followed by

the formal launching of a housing project in

Lezo, Aklan by the Camella Homes, and then

the blessing and inauguration of the MKWD

building.

=