SOCEMWIC Meeting and Regional Contests held

 Water Districts under the umbrella of the Southern and Central Mindanao Water Information Council (SOCEMWIC) gathered at Digos Water District Eco-living and Learning Center facility at Barangay Dulangan, Digos City on January 15, 2016 for the Regional Tap and Drill Skills Olympics and the Science and Math Quiz eliminations. Ten Water Districts from regions eleven and twelve sent and supported their representatives to the two-hour battle of skills, strength and accuracy.

Participating Water Districts by order of their contest number are: Kabacan; Polomolok; Sultan Kudarat; Metro Kidapawan; General Santos City; Metro Midsayap; Digos; Tagum; Panabo; and Davao City. Engineer Cesar Sornito  along with other Digos Water District personnel facilitated the contest.

Simultaneously with this competition, the Regional Math and Science Quiz eliminations for high school and elementary were conducted in the function room of the same venue. Three water districts sponsored participants from their coverage areas for both categories, namely: General Santos City; Digos; and Tagum water districts. Representatives of Digos Water District in both categories garnered the championship and will represent the region in the national contest in the Philippine Association of Water Districts National Convention in February.

After all the contests were done, the general managers of member water districts gathered in the function room for the SOCEMWIC meeting wherein several matters were tackled.  It was also during the meeting that the incoming chairperson of SOCEMWIC, GM Stella M. Gonzales of Metro Kidapawan Water District was installed into office, together with the other officers.

After the induction, GM Gonzales accepted the symbolic key of SOCEMWIC from the outgoing chairperson, GM Nelly Gentugaya of Tagum Water District and presided over the meeting.

The day culminated with the distribution of certificates of participation and awarding of prizes to deserving winners of the Tap and Drill contest.

Second runner-up was Jerry M. Orellano of Davao City Water District; first runner-up was Bernard C. Grana of Polomolok Water District; and the champion was Arnold B. Quimay of General Santos City Water District.

Congratulations to the organizers, to SOCEMWIC, and all the participants for a thrill-filled event. 

(by JP Acupan)