The National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA)

In 1955, however, Republic Act No. 1383 was approved creating the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) with the objective of consolidating and centralizing the operation of all waterworks systems throughout the country under one control, direction, and general supervision. It was a public corporation existing as an independent agency.

Also, in the same year, the administration of the IMWW was transferred from the Province of Iloilo to the NAWASA whose administration lasted until 1970

During the NAWASA administration, two infiltration galleries were constructed, one in 1963 and the other in 1969, with the total cost of P 844,930 financed out of the savings of the Iloilo Metropolitan Waterworks. The two infiltration galleries provided additional water supply of 2,000,500 gallons per day, thus improving the service for the succeeding five years.

Thereafter, the service became insufficient to match population growth and development of the City of Iloilo.

The fifteen-year old management of NAWASA ended when Republic Act 6234 was approved creating the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and abolishing the NAWASA.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS)

The MWSS administered the operation of the NAWASA from 1971 to 1978. However, like its predecessor, it had not undertaken any major improvement that would meet the development of the City and its burgeoning population. There still was a need to make the water system more responsive to the growing demands of its growing communities. Somehow, the management had to be improved and the water utility had to be weaned from local political control and influence.

Based on the findings of the 1969-1972 study of the water supply system, the old government-controlled water utility was found to be mismanaged. It oftentimes became a dumping ground for “political lame ducks,” and the water it supplied was far from safe.

All the problems that saddled the water system, however, finally found their solutions in the promulgation of Presidential Decree 198 in May 23, 1973. P.D. 198 authorized the formation of autonomous water districts and the creation of the Local Water Utilities Administration, a government corporation aimed at providing water districts financial, technical and skill-training assistance.

On September 18, 1978, there was a simultaneous turn-over of the water system from the MWSS to the City Government pursuant to P.D. 1405 and from the City Government to the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) in accordance with the provisions of P.D. 198.

The Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD)

The year 1978 may be considered as the turning point for the water system in Iloilo. With assistance from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), MIWD was able to undergo institutional development in all systems of operation. Improvement projects were undertaken to meet rising water demands of the consuming public of Iloilo. In 1986, the Phase I-A Immediate Improvement Project was completed with the construction of four deep well pump stations with a combined production of 115 liters per second (lps). A central chlorine station was installed adjacent to the 568-cubic meter elevated steel tank for the four wells. It also included the installation of 20 kilometers of pipeline from Mandurriao town to Molo plaza going to Arevalo plaza and down to Timawa-Delgado and Valeria streets in downtown Iloilo.

In 1994, the 76-kilometer pipe-laying was completed with the installation of 22-kilometer PVC pipes and 54-kilometer cement-coated concrete steel pipes under Phase IB improvement project with a total cost of P29 million.

Three (3) additional wells in Oton, Iloilo, including the pumping stations were completed in April 1993 under Phase IC-3 improvement program. These three wells have a combined production of 90 liters per second and were connected to the existing distribution network which became fully operational in the last part of 1993.

In the latter part of 2000, MIWD started the operation of its water treatment plant, with a supply capacity of 37,000 cubic meters of water per day, one of the components of the Phase IC-1 and 2 projects. Financed by the Asian Development Bank under a two-billion loan package for eight (8) water districts in the Philippines, the project also consisted, among others, the installation of 27-kilometer transmission line from the dam in Maasin to the reservoir in Santa Barbara to Iloilo City; the improvement of Maasin intake structure and dam apron; the provision of a cover to the existing reservoir in Santa Barbara; the construction of a booster pump station; the installation of 7.5 kilometers of 150 mm to 200 mm in diameter of new distribution pipelines; the construction of pumping stations with standby power and chlorine facilities; the installation of valves and other appurtenances; and, the installation of approximately 10,294 new service connections.

With the completion of the water treatment plant, water supply in Iloilo will now undergo a complete treatment for surface water sources. The system will be able to meet, too, the 633 liters per second projected demand of the District for the succeeding years.

At present, MIWD serves a population of more than 300,000 with a total of 17,000 active service connections, all of which are metered. It has installed 45 gate valves and 32 fire hydrants. Its present surface water source comes from the dam in Maasin while its ground water supply is being generated by the eight (8) wells in San Miguel and Oton. On the other hand, the existing transmission mains consist of a total of 54.85-kilometer long CCI, steel and PVC pipes with diameters ranging from 200-600 mm. The distribution lines total 170.53 kilometers with diameters ranging from 50-500 mm, also of the same materials. Its service area covers the whole city of Iloilo, Oton, San Jose (San Miguel), Pavia, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan and Maasin. It has also extended its services to a total of 28 subdivisions, both here in the city and the neighboring municipalities.

The search for efficiency, however, does not end with the completion of all these projects. Still, MIWD is doing a continuous research for additional water sources beyond 2000 that will possibly reach as far as Guimaras, Tubungan, and even the Sibalom River.

As ever, MIWD strives to serve its concessionaires in the best way it can. Cognizant of its basic responsibility of supplying potable and adequate water to all its consumers, it continues to tap all possible sources at any cost in order to live up to the expectations of the public and the mandate of its goals and objectives.