LWUA placed under DOH to ensure safe potable water supply in every barangay
Manila (28 July) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has placed the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) under the administrative supervision of the Department of Health (DOH) to assure safe potable water supply in every barangay in the country.
In Executive Order (EO) No. 738 dated July 14, the President transferred the administrative supervision of LWUA from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the DOH, stressing that "the provision of potable water is a primary health concern which should be supervised by the DOH."
"There is also a need to speed up and ensure the provision of safe potable water in every barangay," the President noted, as she gave the DOH the "authority to exercise administrative supervision" over the water agency.
In 2004, the LWUA, then a government instrumentality under the Office of the President (OP), was transferred to the DPWH under EO No. 387.
Under EO 738, the President directed the DOH Secretary to exercise administrative supervision over the LWUA, and (to) coordinate with the Secretary of Public Works and Highways and the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) to ensure that there will be concerted efforts in formulating the policies, as well as planning and implementing programs and projects for the water sector." (PIA-MMIO) [top]
