by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, July 25 (PIA) – The
Isabela Water District (ISAWAD) in Basilan marked its 25 years of bringing
quality and safe water services to Isabelaños with a testimonial luncheon last
July 5, 2012, showcasing what it called bigger, better, and bolder services.
Looking back at the significant achievements
of ISAWAD, General Manager Aleli C. Almodovar thanked all institutions who have
supported the agency for several years now who are “always ready to lend a hand
and assistance, our beacon of hope, in our most trying times.”
“It was tough at the beginning, even tougher
along the way but the wisdom, guidance, support, and inspiration of our
colleagues in many government agencies and partners from financial and
non-governmental organizations, as well as the generosity of individual and
corporate benefactors drove us to surmount all obstacles, to defy the odds, and
to rise beyond expectations,” Almodovar noted.
She cited the role of the people of Isabela
for making the “road to success” more rewarding, saying that without the
concessionaires’ loyalty and respect, “the resurgence of the agency from its
doomed failure would not have been as far-reaching and highly regarded in the
industry.”
ISAWAD Board of Directors Chairman Dr.
Francisco C. Pioquinto said the agency stands out as one of the most successful
agencies in the water industry, but admits that its route to the pinnacle of
success has rather been a difficult struggle.
“During its infancy, the fight for survival
of its existence in the future was uncertain and beset by all sorts of
problems. Nevertheless, with the strong resolve of the management, the
cooperation of a dynamic board of directors, the employees’ support and hard
work, the help and guidance from government agencies as well as from many
non-governmental organizations, individual and corporate benefactors, with the
Divine Providence, ISAWAD emerges bigger, better, and bolder now,” he said.
Pioquinto also announced that a commemorative
coffee table book is presented, which chronicles the 25 years that features the
testimonies from the people and captures the memories off those who have been
part of the significant events of ISAWAD.
The document reveals that the water system of
Isabela was originally established in 1948 through the initiatives of the City
Government of Basilan. Its source facilities located in Barangay Menzi were
initially developed to serve the Isabela Poblacion.
With the rapid increase of population, a 380
cu.m. ground reservoir was constructed at Barangay Menzi in 1954 as additional
water from the excess of the two springs of the Menzi Agricultural Plantation
was tapped. During this period, a pumping system was operated to bring water
from the intake boxes to the reservoir for distribution to the system by
gravity.
In 1965, the National Waterworks and Sewerage
Authority took over the management of the water system and implemented
subsequent expansion and improvement programs. Upon the conversion of Basilan
City into a province, the municipal government of Isabela then took over the
operation and maintenance of the water system in 1973 as the Municipal
Waterworks System.
On September 28, 1978, President Ferdinand E.
Marcos issued Presidential Decree 198, declaring a national policy favoring
local operation and control of water systems, authorizing the formation of
local water districts and providing for the government and administration of
such districts, among other purposes.
With the difficulty of water supply after the
pumping operations ceased operation in 1978 due to high operational costs, the
municipal government constructed an additional 100 cu.m. ground reservoir in
1984 located beside the existing 50 cu.m. reservoir constructed by the
Department of Public Works and Highways in 1973.
At the same time, a grant from the Catholic
Relief Services through the late Bishop Jose Ma. Querexeta, CMF enabled the
installation of the 100 mm PVC transmission pipelines from the Menzi Reservoir
to Barangay Sunrise.
A caucus with Provincial Government of
Basilan headed by Officer-in-Charge Governor Louie W. Alano together with other
stakeholders resulted in plans for the formation of the Metro Basilan Water
District or water districts in all the seven municipalities of Basilan through
the assistance of the Local Water Utilities Administration. Subsequently,
Lamitan Water District was formed in 1986 and Isabela Water District in 1987
during the administration of then Isabela Municipal Mayor Herminio Montebon.
The birth of ISAWAD
On June 4, 1987, the Sangguniang Bayan of
Isabela passed Resolution No. 1109 creating the Isabela Water District, which
also paved the way for filing the said resolution with the Secretary of the
Local Water Utilities Administration that duly formed the water district on
July 5, 1987.
Since then, ISAWAD embarked on various
projects in upgrading its system and facilities to serve the concessionaires.
But the bolder step came when LWUA took over the management of the water
district in 2002 and appointed Aleli C. Almodovar as Interim General Manager.
Under the new management, a dramatic change
and facelift was undertaken without
let-up that paved the way for the completion of the La Paz Water Supply Pumping
System, established with the financial assistance from the Prelature of
Isabela; the implementation of a full-scale metering program in 2002; and the
apprehension of illegal connections and tampered meters in 2003.
Also in 2003, the water source development at
the Aguada River-Bucol Falls was undertaken with the installation of 2km.
transmission pipelines, and construction of the rapid sand filtration plant at
Menzi, completed in partnership with the Isabela City Government and the United
Workers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (UWARBMPC).
In 2006, ISAWAD received the LWUA Special
Award for Innovation as the lone water district with a resort facility, which
it developed in 2004 initially for exclusive use of its employees and their
families but was later opened to the public as an affordable leisure facility
for the Isabelaños.
Bigger, better, bolder
With her display of unprecedented leadership,
Almodovar was formally installed in 2005 as the new General Manager. Her
effective management skills has encouraged the people under her wings to propel
better and worked as a team in providing better services to the public.
More significant projects were implemented. A
P25.7 million loan from Kreditanstalt feur Wiederaufbau (KfW) in Germany with
local counterpart from Isabela City Government completed the source development
at Kapatagan Grande River, installed the 5 kms. of transmission pipelines and
filtomat for the Menzi Filtration Plant, construction of sedimentation basin
and rapid sand filtration plant at Balanban, and the rehabilitation of distribution
pipelines within Isabela City poblacion.
ISAWAD also invested in rubber farming in
2007 as an income-generating measure in addition to coconut farming to
subsidize future water supply improvements as well as institutional and
organizational advancement. In the same year, it also developed and completed
the Balanban campsite that envisioned becoming the first eco-tourism adventure
park in the city.
Almodovar’s unparalleled management and
leadership skills were not left unnoticed. In 2007, the Civil Service
Commission Region IX named her the 2007 Regional Outstanding Lady Executive
(ROLEX) for her consistent, dedicated, and outstanding performance in the field
of public service and governance. She also received national recognition in
2008 for her competent management and entrepreneurial drive that reversed the
fortunes of a flagging public utility facility in winning as one of the CSC
Pagasa Awardees for Individual Category.
The monumental evidence of Almodovar’s
leadership and ISAWAD’s achievements was the completion of a P10 million,
three-storey office and laboratory building in 2011, dedicated to the
furtherance of the well-being of the people of Isabela City and to contribute
to the development of the entire nation through excellent performance and
admirable service.
Almodovar said savings generated from the
Non-LWUA Initiated Fund-DOH loan-grant was used for the office building
improvement for laboratory at the third floor of the said building.
Former LWUA Administrator Daniel Landingin
said the building is indicative of the progress and growth that is currently
being felt in this part of the country.
“Most important of all, this three-storey
structure shall now be a symbol of hope for all the people in Isabela who
deserve adequate and safe water supply. This shall always reassure them that
there is an institution called ISAWAD, which shall take care of their needs,”
he said.