PAGUDPUD WATER DISTRICT

One pressing problem of the municipality of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte has been the lack of adequate and safe potable water supply for domestic and commercial consumption. This problem cannot be met because there are no funds available from the municipal government for the development of a waterworks system. However, Presidential Decree 198 otherwise known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973, created the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to aid and assist provincial urban water users through loans, trainings and other forms of assistance. PD 198 further provides that to avail of this assistance, an autonomous local water district free from political influence and independent of any local government should be formed and organized. Also, such entity (the local water district) shall take charge and operate the local water utility on a self-supporting and business-like manner.

​

On September 8, 2009, through Municipal Resolution No. 2009-077, Pagudpud Water District (PWD) was formed. The Certificate of Conformance was issued by the Local Water Utilities Administration on September 15, 2009 and the Certificate of Category (CCC No. 706) on March 30, 2012 in which the Pagudpud Water District is categorized as Category “D” Water District. All facilities of the existing but non-operational water system of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte was then turned-over to the PWD for its operation and proper maintenance. The Pagudpud Water District was a recipient of P 30.0 M (thirty million pesos) financial assistance under the Non-LWUA Initiated Fund-DOH (NLIF-DOH) which was a 50% - 50% loan – grant package at 0% interest. The Local Water Utilities Administration was designated as implementing arm of the government’s program in providing potable water supply to waterless municipalities throughout the country, pursuant to the Potable Water Supply Project of the Department of Health (DOH) known as the General Appropriation Act for CY 2010. The amount of P30M which was included in the agency budget of the Department of Health was released and was utilized for the improvement/rehabilitation and expansion of the existing but non-operational water system of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

​

On February 2012, the Pagudpud Water District (PWD) commenced its operation and by December 2012 there were 270 active concessionaires. As of December  2019, there are 1,082 connections and with God’s blessing, and with the full cooperation of the consumers as well as the support of the municipal government, the existing minor problems will be gradually solved and hopefully, the PWD will be inching its way to solid ground. 

Thus, the Pagudpud Water District is encouraged to continue its small initiatives that lie within its capacity to provide water to deprived communities, to ensure that our local communities have access to clean water and to uphold the protection of our natural resources.