Palace names new LWUA chief

Malacañang announced the appointment on Monday of a new head for the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) just as the country braces for a looming water shortage due to the effects of a “strong” El Niño or prolonged drought.

Lawyer Jose Moises Salonga replaced Vicente Homer Revil, another lawyer who occupied the post in an acting capacity for only about a year. No reason was given for his exit.

The LWUA is a government-owned and controlled corporation that oversees the operations of water supply utilities in provincial cities and municipalities outside of Metro Manila. It was created through Presidential Decree No. 198, also known as The Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973, which was signed into law on May 25, 1973.

Leadership dispute

Revil’s exit comes amid an unresolved leadership dispute at the Metropolitan Cebu Water District involving the appointment of its board members over graft allegations.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Salonga formerly served in various capacities in the government and private sector.

READ: Marcos names new LWUA administrator

He once served under the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force of the Philippine National Police, Land Bank of the Philippines, National Power Corp., and Philippine National Oil Co.-Renewable Corp.

He also worked for the First Farmers’ Rural Bank of Batangas Inc., Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp., First Cabanatuan Renewable Ventures Inc., Emergence Management and Consulting Corp. and the Quezon City local government, according to the PCO.

Salonga graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in 1999 with a degree in economics. He also earned his law degree from the same university in 2003 and his masters degree in public safety administration at the Philippine Public Safety College in 2017. INQ