Solving the water supply problem

Progress usually means improving living conditions. As time passes and the years go by, we are supposed to experience improvements in our lives by way of, for example, being able to own or improve our houses, get better education for family members, and in general, improve family incomes.
           
This type of progress is certainly not true in Tacloban City when it comes to providing water supply.
           
For almost 20 years now, the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) has been unable to cope with the demand for sufficient water supply. In fact, most of us who live in Tacloban City have experienced a substantial decline in water pressure.
           
It is very clear that LMWD has not lived up to its mandate to provide sufficient water supply to its coverage area. And this means to thousands of households.
           
Utilities like LMWD, which we can call a natural monopoly  (we can’t have two water providers at the same time) often have that sense of complacency that, since there is no competition, it can do nothing of significance and yet still earn enough to sustain its operations.
           
The present situation is woeful. LMWD has not presented to the public its plans to improve its services. Perhaps its officers and Board of Directors should be sensitive to the clamor of the concessionaires they are serving or not serving (since no new connections can be given even if there are applicants). It seems to have been content over the years to see our water supply dwindle thereby making living in Tacloban City (and nearby towns which it serves) uncomfortable (to say the least) in so far as water services is concerned.
           
We may recall that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) even helped LMWD rehabilitate its reservoir in Pastrana, Leyte when it was destroyed by floods caused by a typhoon in the early 1990’s. This means LMWD did not even use its money to fix the reservoir.
           
Even with that grant (which means free), it was not able to rise up and improve its services. The Japanese engineers designed the reservoir in such a way that LMWD can use its funds to expand it. Nothing happened. No expansion was made even after 15 years since the reservoir was rehabilitated.
           
Improving services in urbanizing communities like the LMWD service area is critical not only for improving the quality of life, but also in attracting investors.
           
This nagging and persistent water supply problem is a negative factor in any effort to attract investments to the regional capital of Eastern Visayas.

Isn’t it time LMWD solve this?