TACLOBAN CITY– City Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez has appealed to Leyte Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla to intervene in the problem besetting the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD).

According to Mayor Romualdez, he is worried that the ongoing labor dispute between the management of the water district and members of the LMWD Employees Association might affect the delivery of water service to concessionaires.

“I am bothered that the problem involving the management and the employees might turn into worst which could affect thousands of concessionaires. That is why I am appealing to Gov. Petilla to try to intervene on this issue before it become too late,” Romualdez told Leyte Samar Daily Express.

Gov. Petilla, as of this time, could not be reached for comment on this appeal of the city mayor.

But earlier, former governor and now Rep. Remedios “Matin” Petilla had told Express that she is set to meet Engr. Ranulfo Feliciano, LMWD general manager, to discuss the labor dispute in the said water agency. It was the firmer governor who appointed the members of the board of directors, including Feliciano.

The labor problem besetting the LMWD started last October 15 when Feliciano sacked 26 workers for joining a protest rally against him staged by some militant groups last February 5.

The workers joined the protest rally, which was originally staged by the militant groups to denounce the water rate increase imposed by the LMWD, to demand for the release if their uniform allowance, among others.

The workers questioned their retrenchment and hold a picket in front of the LMWD office as they demand that management reinstate them back to work.

The protest was marred by violence when two striking workers were involved in shooting incident that resulted in the killing of Samuel Bandilla, a labor leader identified with the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno.

Feliciano earlier told Express of his willingness to meet the striking workers. He, however, maintained that the dismissal of the workers were “legal and had a bias.”

He also made an assurance that despite the labor row affecting the agency; its services would remain unhampered.

Mayor Romualdez told Express that since it is the governor who appoints members of the LMWD board, it is just proper that Petilla intervenes in this problem.

“I could not do anything on this problem. I don’t have any influence among its officers except of the fact that majority of LMWD members are from Tacloban,” he said.

According to the city mayor, if he had his way, “I would talk to Feliciano and the striking workers to settle their dispute.”

“LMWD is a very sensitive agency … responsible for our daily basic needs,” reason that the operation of the said agency must at all times remain unhampered and problem-free, he said.