THE Commission on Audit has called out six water districts in Region 4A (Mimaropa) for non-compliance with the rules of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on formulating a Water Safety Plan (WSP) to ensure risk-free supply of drinking water from the source to consumers.
Based on the 2023 audit reports, those found without WSPs were the Culion Water District, Roxas WD, and Taytay WD in Palawan; Pola Wd and Pinamalayan WD in Oriental Mindoro; and Odiongan WD in Romblon.
Government auditors also reported that Romblon WD in Romblon province, Naujan WD in Oriental Mindoro, and Sablayan WD in Occidental Mindoro were all able to prepare and submit their WSPs to the LWUA.
“A Water Safety Plan is a management tool that can be applied to all types of water systems to ensure the safe quality of supplied water. Its objectives are to prevent or minimize contamination of water source, remove contamination thru treatment and prevent re-contamination during storage, distribution and handling of drinking water,” the Commission on Audit said.
It noted that the development of a WSP is a mandatory requirement under the DOH Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2014-027 and (LWUA Memorandum Circular No. 010-14.
The LWUA offers technical assistance, orientation, and WSP trainings and workshops as well as guidance on issues and concerns regarding the development and implementation of WSP.
Auditors noted that in the absence of a WSP, the six water districts still conducted bacteriological tests and daily monitoring of chlorine residual and chemical tests to ensure the water it is distributing to end users is safe and potable.
However, the COA explained that on top of ensuring safe drinking water, a WPS will also enable water districts to anticipate and address potential hazardous events or supply risks before they happen which offers greater protection to the consumers.
“Thus, absence of WSP may render the water production and distribution vulnerable to risks arising from natural disasters, anthropogenic and other environmental factors that if not effectively addressed or managed could threaten the safe quality of drinking water and public health,” auditors warned.
They reminded the general managers of the six water districts that the DOH Administrative Order highlighted the penal provisions of Presidential Decree No. 856 or the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines which states that non-compliance with rules and regulations shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of P1,000 or both.
In their replies to the audit observation, the water districts assured the COA that they would address the issue immediately.
Odiongan WD notified the COA that as of February 2024, it had submitted its updated WSP and all necessary support documents to the LWUA for review and endorsement to the DOH.
Taytay WD said its WSP is already being drafted and promised to furnish COA with a copy of the setoff documents once completed.
Roxas WD, Pinamalayan WD, Pola WD, and Culion WD all made commitments to comply with the DOH and LWUA rules but provided no measurable timetables.
