Bayugan Water District

ocal Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to have met all the minimum requirements which included the appointment of the five (5) Board of Directors representing the major sectors of the community. Rolando Piedad was appointed as the General Manager and under his leadership, the conduct of public hearing and the completion of certification Program were accomplished which eventually led to the issuance of the Certificate of Conformance No. 243 on April 4, 1983. Twelve (12) years after, the water system project remained as a stagnant venture until 1995 when Mayor Magdalena Asis appointed a new set of Board of Directors, namely: DIR. SALVAN, DIR. ABELARDO S. REYES, DIR. ALLAN SANTIAGO AND DIR. ARNULFO A. TORRES were tasked to pursue the started endeavors through conducting a new Feasibility Study aiming to secure financial assistance for the project to get through to the finishing point. In 1997, an organization known as Bayugan Metro Water Cooperatives came into time to serve as a channel for fund releases of the Twenty Four Million Pesos (24M) from the Country Wide Development Fund allocated by Former Congressman Ceferino Paredes, Jr. From this amount, and with the supervision of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The following were constructed: five (5) kilometers transmission lines, two (2) Intake Structures, one (1) Junction Box and a 350cu.m concrete ground Reservoir. After completion in 1998, all these facilities were just left unattended prompting numerous illegal connections and wasted waters. On November 27, 2000, the cooperative was impelled to turn over the system to the Bayugan Water District seeing that it will just linger in futility. After ocular inspection, it was also discovered that system has several deficiencies and fell short of the required standard specifications. Concurrent to the existence of the cooperative, however, the legitimate Bayugan Water District kept on pursuing the policy of proper procedures in close with the LWUA. The Feasibility Study was completed in 1998 which in due course, was included in the Small Town Water Supply System (STWSS) to be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Buoyed up by LWUA’s insistence to utilize the existing water system while waiting for the Loan Contract Agreement, “the Board of Directors dared to start the operation with practically nothing: no personnel, no office building , no facilities, no equipment, no supplies, no technical skills and no FUNDS”. THE BEGINNING

August 16, 2001 is a day when the spirit of volunteerism ignited a bunch of professionals who came to take the examination; to be interviewed and undergo personnel selection process notwithstanding of the fact that only volunteer jobs are awaiting them. On August 21, 2001, the Honorable Governor Adolph Edward G. Plaza detailed MR. TORRES then Assistant Provincial Agriculturist to lead the water district. Right away, renovations of the office space offered by Former Governor Valentina Plaza started… launching its operation! Looking back, “the generosity and benevolence of our friends who were with us all through the way of the water district’s novice operation will always be embedded in our history of success.”
Sixty days after, October 21, 2001, a lethal blow struck the newly started district – the renovated building was totally demolished by the Governor for a very justified reason, road widening, that is. Much painful though, the 3.372 kilometer mainline pipe along the highway was also removed by the Local Government spending over P 100,000.00. Still, “the more problem, the stronger is the commitment and the more we are fueled to pursue.”

THE TEAM'S COMMITMENT

Without salaries and without any promises of future permanent jobs, a group of thirteen (13) strong-willed people, namely: Felipa M. Asis, Arnold L. Madula, Isidro T. Cabanday, Robelyn T. Ladaran, Herma-Lisa A. Galleron, Leonardo A. Badato, Juliene M. Villanueva, Lucita D. Tabor, Giovanni P. de Guzman, Nerissa P. Sulit, Gemma S. Yuson, Dexter M. Godoy, and Silvani Ivn E. Torres who “have dedicated their competence and skills to turn into reality the long dream of the Bayugan people:” a reliable water system. The team has to study the system, four (4) surveys has been conducted, crossing eight (8) kilometers mountain range to search for deficiencies so that strategies can be planned and best alternative solutions maybe emplaced. Influenced by the previous letdown, the impossibility of having a water system was installed in the minds of our constituents. Our volunteers even swallow the smacking terms fashioned for them- WAS JAPORMS was the common term. “But today, that PAPOGI is just a memory, real water is available!”

Proficient leadership coupled with hard-work and innovativeness enabled the BYG-WD team to implement the best interventions and to triumph over the string of adversities. Together with the volunteers, the leadership of Mr. Torres is highlighted by successful milestones:

1. October 24, 2001- Surigao Metro Water District released on account valves and fittings worth P 31,733.01: holes were plugged and leaks were plugged and leaks were repaired.

2. November 20, 2001- Water rates were approved by the Board of Trustees.

3. December 16, 2001- 63.24M Loan Agreement between the Bayugan Water District and Local Water Utilities Administration was approved to finance the Comprehensive Water Supply System.

4. December 21, 2001- First Contract for household connection was signed.

5. January 21, 2002 - Blessing of the first 61 connections.

6. September 2002 - Commercial Practice System (CPS) was installed enhancing the preparation of the District’s Budget.

7. December 21, 2002 - The approval of the loan contract was published in Na- tional Circulation.

8. December 2002 - Achieved a total of 301 service connections.

9. January 2003- SIG Construction and Industrial Corporation commenced the construction of the Comprehensive Water Supply System – scheduled to end by September 11, 2004.
-Department of Budget and Management approved three permanent positions.

10. August 18, 2004- the BYG-WD transferred to its new building. Just recently, the Board of Directors approved a resolution marking August 21 as its anniversary to remember how this operational water district was started and shaped into what it is today. Does anything in our history catch your attention? Of course, it’s number 21 whatever month it may be… You may wonder why most of the water district’s affairs fall on this date. Perhaps, it will always be a mystery but for sure, it keeps us lucky!