LWUA cites North Cotabato town water utility

COTABATO CITY -- Officials of the water district office in Kabacan, North Cotabato vowed Thursday to further improve its services to its concessionaires after the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) recognized its contribution to the community.

The Kabacan Water District (KBD) was awarded “Outstanding Water District Mindanao Category C” by LWUA during awarding ceremonies held on Sept. 17 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

“This award is an inspiration for us to improve further our services to our concessionaires, partners, suppliers, and benefactors,” Ruby Torres, KWD information officer, said in a radio interview Thursday.

In a separate interview, KWD manager Mar Balungay said KWD was also adjudged as “National Awardee for Outstanding Performance (Lowest Non-Revenue Water)” during the ceremony.

Balungay said that of all the water districts across Mindanao, the Kabacan water firm has the lowest systems loss record.

Torres also said the water utility has "the lowest number of leaks and water losses before water meters of concessionaires.” She added that the firm focused mostly on prevention of losses to better serve its clients and increase revenue.

With fewer systems losses, KBD decided not to pass on the burden of paying water leaks to consumers.

Torres also lauded the concessionaires of Kabacan for working closely with KWD by reporting leaks and illegal connections to the water district.

“Our concessionaires are our major stakeholders and they played major roles (in) the success of KWD,” she said. (PNA)