“The Barangayan Forum is an annual event and this activity will give us the opportunity to meet and communicate with the Barangay Leaders and promote the benefits of being connected with MKWD and availing its water supply services for a better living and health condition”, as stated by our General Manager Stella M. Gonzales.
One of the activities for the Water Consciousness Month, following the Kick Off Activity – Site Visitation, Tree Planting and Ground Weeding held last March 4, 2015, the 4th Barangayan Forum was organized and conducted by MKWD on the 11th day of March and was spearheaded by the Department Manager of Engineering and Operations Ms. Myrna R. Victoria. The event was attended by MKWD Top Level Management, Organizers, Officers, Board of Directors, Captains and Officers of different Barangays, Representative from the Local Government Unit of Kidapawan, Province, and the Media and also the Local Water Utilities Administration Advisor of MKWD Engr. Joven Aguilar.
The program started with the doxology and singing of the National Anthem followed by an Opening Remarks coming from the General Manager of MKWD. She focused on the importance of partnership with the LGU and Province to come up with funds to finance project implementation and also reiterated the significance of having the Barangayan forum every year. After the formal opening of the program is the elucidation of Engr. Wilesper Lisandro M. Alqueza of the rationale of the Barangayan by stating the objectives of the activity, the organizations, laws and legal bases and development plans of MKWD. Mr. Gasbamel D. Suelan then afterwards gave his message as the ABC President of Kidapawan City, he said that Barangayan is an opportunity of the local leaders of barangays to voice out their questions and needs from MKWD.
MKWD technical workforce then proceeded with their individuals presentations. For the Proposed 3 year Development Plan of MKWD (2015-2017) Ms. Victoria presented several Source Facilities, Transmission/Mainline, Distribution Expansion projects and System Improvements and that these projects will be anticipated to be seen in the foreseeable future if the financial capacity of Water District with the aid from LGU and Province will suffice. Mr. Daquipa next reported about the Accomplished Projects of MKWD for the year 2014. The number of projects implemented for the different service areas were 64 amounting to Php 61,462,874.30. While the final presentation was about the Septage Management Project Feasibility Study for Kidapawan City, this Project aims to assure that septage is managed in a responsible, safe and consistent manner. Based under the Clean Water Act, water utilities in highly urbanized areas, in coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs), are required to connect existing sewage lines to available sewerage systems. Ms. Victoria presented three options which are the non-mechanized, semi-mechanized and fully mechanized septage treatment system under this Project and opted for the semi-mechanized choice as the most viable among the three. The next steps for the Implementation of the MKWD Septage Management Program will be the drafting of a sanitation ordinance from the LGU and massive information campaign before formally presenting the program to the public and enacting the ordinance.
An Open Forum was conducted after the presentation in which Atty. Dionesio T. Alave acted as the moderator. The local leaders and representatives were able to ask questions and give information about the current situation of their respective barangays. It has been highlighted during the forum that the Water District will do their part to give access to clean, safe and potable water to all barangays within their service areas and give quality customer servicing to all concessionaires. For the closing message Dr. Alfred Villarico encouraged all the local leaders to extend their support and assist the Water District to achieve all endeavors for a better MKWD. The event was culminated with a “salo-salo” buffet lunch at the MKWD Covered Court in order to give a chance for the local leaders and MKWD personnel to mingle with each other.
The event was a channel of both the Water District and its consumers represented by the local leaders to address each other concerns to enhance the quality of water service and enjoy the benefits of potable and safe water.