Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Local Water District may be formed pursuant to this Title for the

purpose of (a) acquiring, installing, improving, maintaining and operating

water supply and distribution systems for domestic, industrial,

municipal and agricultural uses for residents and lands within the

boundaries of such districts, (b) Providing, maintaining, and operating

wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities, and (c)

conducting such other functions and operations incidental to water

resource development, utilization and disposal within such districts as

are necessary or incidental to said purpose.

This is act is the source of authorization and power to form and

maintain a district, Once formed a district is subject to the provisions of

this Act and not under the jurisdiction of any political subdivision. For

purposes of this Act, a district shall be considered as a quasi-public

corporation performing public service and supplying public wants. As

such, a district shall exercise the powers, rights and privileges given to

Private Corporation under existing laws in addition to the power granted

in and subject to such restriction imposed under, this Act. To form a

district, the legislative body of any city, municipality of province shall

enact a resolution containing the following: (As amended by Sec. 1, PD

1479).
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But while early water supply development efforts expended by the

government were genuine, these simply did not take off as expected.

Earlier approaches were centralized, thus, responsiveness to local

conditions or developments suffered.

That law created the Local Water Utilities Administration or LWUA

in the national level and provided for the establishment of Water Districts

in provincial cities and municipalities. Thus would be put into motion a

development partnership called the “LWUA-Water District Concept” that

would revolutionize water supply provision in the countryside. In 1987,

LWUA’s mission and area of responsibility was expanded to include

provision of Level II service (communal faucet system) through the Rural

Waterworks and Sanitation Associations (RWSAs) in areas where Level III

systems (individual household connection) were not feasible.

LWUA is the only lending institution whether in the public or

private sector with the financial, technical and institutional development

competence to enable a water district’s water supply project to generate

return-on-investments.

LWUA treats countryside water supply development not simply as

a financial venture, nor as a mere waterworks construction project, but

as a comprehensive development endeavor that factors in the

community’s economic and cultural nuances, among other things, to

assure residents of a water supply service that is both reliable and

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lasting. LWUA’s comprehensive expertise has been responsible for

turning Philippine countryside water supply development into the

working model for Asia that it is today. Water Districts benefit from this

comprehensive expertise through LWUA’s various assistance programs.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the LWUA Support, competencies

and client satisfaction in the delivery of services of Local Water Districts

in Southern Negros for the first three quarters of 2016.

Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the employees in the selected water districts in

Southern Negros according to the following variables?

a. educational attainment

b. Length of Service

c. Position

d. economic status

2. What is the profile of the concessionaires in the selected water

Districts in Southern Negros according to the following variables?

a. Type of concessionaires

b. Length of membership

c. Location
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3. What Is the extent of LWUA’s support as perceived by the

selected water district’s employees in Southern Negros in the following

areas?

a. Administrative services

b. Financial services

c. Technical services

4. What is the level of competencies of the services provided by th

selected water districts employees in the following areas?

a. Administrative services

b. Financial services

c. Technical services

5. What is the level of client’s satisfaction of the services provided by the

selected water districts as assessed by the concessionaires in the

following areas?

a. Administrative services

b. Financial services

c. Technical services

6. What is the extent of LWUA’s support provided to the

selected water district’s when the employees are grouped according to the

aforementioned variables?

7. What is the level of competencies of the services provided by the

selected water districts when the employees are grouped according to the

aforementioned variables?
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8. What is the level of client’s satisfaction of the services provided by the

selected water districts when the concessionaires are grouped according

to the aforementioned variables?

9. Is there a significant difference between the extents of LWUA’s support

provided to the selected water districts when the employees are grouped

and compared according to the aforementioned variables?

10.Is there a significant difference between the level of competencies of

the services provided by the selected water districts when the employees

are grouped and compared according to the aforementioned variables?

11. Is there a significant difference between the levels of client’s

satisfaction of the services provided by the selected water districts when

the concessionaires are grouped and compares according to the

aforementioned variables?

12. Is there a significant relationship existing between the extents of

LWUA’s support and the level of competencies of the of the selected water

districts?

13. Is there a significant relationship existing between the LWUA’s

support to the selected water district and clients satisfaction of the

services?

14. Is there a significant relationship existing between the level of

competencies and the client satisfaction of the services provided by the

selected water district?

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Hypothesis of the Study

The following hypotheses are formulated for this study:

1. There is no significant difference between the extents of LWUA’s

support provided to the selected water districts when the employees

are grouped and compared according to the aforementioned

variables.

2. There is no significant difference between the level of competencies of

the services provided by the selected water districts when the

employees are grouped and compared according to the

aforementioned variables.

3. There is no significant difference between the levels of client’s

satisfaction of the services provided by the selected water districts

when the concessionaires are grouped and compares according to the

aforementioned variables.

4. There is no significant relationship existing between the extents of

LWUA’s support and the level of competencies of the of the selected

water districts.

5. There is no significant relationship existing between the LWUA’s

support to the selected water district and clients satisfaction of the

services.

6. There is no significant relationship existing between the level of

competencies and the client satisfaction of the services provided by

the selected water district?

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Assumption of the Study

The assessment of the services provided by the local water districts

in Southern Negros varies to a certain level.

EMPLOYEES

Variables Categories Indicator

High School – 31

Educational Attainment Education status completed College - 64

Shorter – 6 years below

Length of Service No. of years as employee Longer – 7 years and above

Administrative – 48

Position Type of service Technical - 47

Lower ( 20,000 below) – 50

Economic Status Income earned Higher ( 20,000 above) - 45

CONCESSIONAIRES

Variables Categories Indicator

Type of Concessionaires Client Serve Residential – 259

Commercial - 43

Length of No. of years serve Shorter – (10 years below) - 149

membership Longer – (10 years and above) -

153
Location Water district areas La Carlota – 130

Himamaylan – 52

Kabankalan – 63

Bago 57

Theoretical Framework of the Study

The creation, operation, maintenance and expansion of reliable

and economically viable and sound water supply and wastewater

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disposal systems for population centers of the Philippines is hereby

declared to be an objective of national policy of high priority. For

purposes of achieving said objectives, the formulation and operation of

independent, locally controlled public water district is found and

declared to be the most feasible and favored institutional structure. To

this end, it is hereby declared to be in the national interest that said

districts be formed and that water supply wastewater disposal system be

operated by and through such districts to the greatest extent practicable.

To encourage the formulation of such local water districts and the

transfer thereto of existing water supply and waste water disposal

facilities. It provides by general act the authority for the formation

thereof, on a local option basis. It is likewise declared appropriate,

necessary and advisable that all funding requirements for such local

water systems, other than those provided by local revenues, should be

channeled through and administered by an institution on the national

level, which institution shall be responsible for and have authority, to

promulgate and enforce certain rules and regulations to achieve national

goals and the objective of providing public waterworks service integration

or joint investments and operations whenever economically warranted

and to assure the maintenance of uniform standards, training of

personnel and the absorption of sound operating and accounting

procedures.
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According to this theory the creation, operation, maintenance and

expansion of reliable and economically viable and sound water supply is

hereby declared to be an objective of locally controlled public local water

district and operation independently, and is therefore related to the

study.

Conceptual Framework of the Study

There are aspects to consider in the evaluation of the level of

Satisfaction and competencies of the services provided by Southern

Negros Water District. In this study the researcher focuses in LWUA’s

Support, the level of competencies of employees and the level of clients’

satisfaction.

In the aspect of administrative matters, the issues are

management action plan, creation of grievance machinery, creation of

merit promotion board, compliance to DBM – salary schedule,

compliance to CSC on code of discipline and employees benefits.

In the aspect of commercial matters, the issues are on the

classification of customer, collection of enforcement, disconnection policy

and meter tampering or illegal connection policy.

In the aspect of technical matters, the issues are planning design

standard, water resources NWR reduction program and production

measurement.
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The level of satisfaction of the services provided may be measured

in a continuum of 1 to 5 with 1 representing very low level, 2 low level. 3

moderate level, 4 high levels and 5 very high level.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study on the assessment of services provided by selected

water districts in Southern Negros covers four water districts which are:

the La Carlota Water District, Bago Water District, Himamaylan Water

District, and Kabankalan Water District.

There are 5,445 active service connections at present in

Himamaylan Water District, 11,718 active service connections in La

Carlota Water District, 5,851 active service connections in Bago Water

District, 5,855 active service connections in Kabankalan Water District.

The three aspects covered in this study are administrative,

commercial and technical services.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study can benefit the water district

organizations. This study can improve water accessibility, time

conservation, water distribution efficiency and client convenience and

can also propagate important researches and will serve as a foundation

in developing more levels of satisfaction. This will enhance services

rendered to concessionaires, repair any deficiencies to achieve overall

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satisfaction as well as sealing up certain loopholes that can affect any of

the services provided by the water district.

Specifically, the following sectors will be benefitted:

The Water District Management. The information

Gathered will help the management provide meaning and directions

which may result to economic and efficient operation. Likewise, using

this information, the quantity of water including an allowance for the

unaccounted wasted water will be determined for the design prior, or

periods as the case may be.

The Water District Staff and Employees. This study will provide

necessary information and inputs to the members of the staff and

employees of the water district which may result to the improvement of

the comprehensive expansion program.

The Local Government. With this study, the local government

officials may be aware of the measures that are implemented by the

water district and they may provide assistance to other barangays that

are not yet covered by the programs of the Himamaylan Water District.

Considering that water is man’s basic needs, the local government may

provide logistic support to their constituents who are unable to finance

their water needs.

The Concessionaires. This study may increase the awareness of

the concessionaire about water safety which would lead to a high level of
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customer’s satisfaction through the performance of the water district in

terms of delivery of basic services.

The Community. Result of this study would be beneficial to the

community as the awareness of the level of performance of the HWD is

necessary to the community in their preparation of programs regarding

safe water to drink.

The Researcher. The study will enhance his knowledge so that he

can make necessary suggestions that are deemed applicable and

beneficial to the management and the consumer

Future Researchers. This study may serve as reference for future

researchers who may wish to conduct similar study in separate areas

and which may include other variables not mentioned in this study.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are hereby defined conceptually and

operationally to give clearer understanding of the terms used in the

study.

Concessionaire. Conceptually, there are two types of concessionaires:

residential and commercial. When we say concessionaires, it is a person

or group of persons that benefits from the water supplied by the water

district or in other terms “consumers”, Consumers priorities are,

interrupted quantity flow of water, adequate water pressure, a quality of

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water, free from objectionable task, turbidity, odor or other chemical

detriments.

Public Faucet Connection. Whenever feasible, a water district may

financially depressed communities within its service area in order to

provide water supply service to a cluster of unserved households.

Operationally, the installed public faucet shall be classified as a regular

residential water service connection and shall be billed as such.

Local Water District. Operationally and conceptually, the term refers to

a government-owned and controlled corporation created under Provincial

Water Utilities Act of 1973 known as Presidential Decree No. 198 which

is to perform public service and supply public water needs. A local water

district exercise the powers, rights and privileges given to private

corporation under existence laws, in addition to the power granted it,

and subject to such restriction imposed under this act.

Water quality. Conceptually, a characteristic of water that is established

on something set up or by level of compliance.

Chlorine Residual. All parts of the distribution system maintain chlorine

residual as identified in the program adopted. It has an operationally

routine test conducted and reported.

Organization Chart. All personnel know their job as described and are

functioning in that capacity, conceptually, supervisor finds out for all

practical purposes employees are actually performing and relating as

outlined in the chart.

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Bacteriological Testing. Management office order adopting a written

program. Operationally, we can say that the advisor concerns of the

program is workable to safeguard the health of the community.