A local court in Cagayan de Oro City has ordered the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to stop intervening in the management of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD).
In a 36-page decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 41 dated April 8, 2025, the court granted the petition for prohibition filed by Engr. Edna Najeal, Dr. Gerry Caño, and former COWD general manager, Engr. Tony Young, against LWUA for taking over the management of COWD in June 2024.
The court ordered LWUA to cease and desist from implementing further the resolution adopted by its board of trustees, which mandated full intervention in the operations and management of COWD through an interim board of directors and interim general manager.
“Accordingly, respondent Local Water Utilities Administration, its administrator, officers, board of trustees, agents, representatives, including its appointed interim board of directors and interim general manager to the Cagayan de Oro Water District, and all persons acting for, together with, or in LWUA BOT Resolution 34, Series of 2024 are hereby ordered to cease and desist from its full intervention in and take over of the policy-making functions, operations, and management of Cagayan de Oro Water District, as well as from performing any other acts that would have similar effects,” reads part of the decision.
“Kanang cease and desist order usually effective immediately kana ug tungod effective immediately kana, wala ta’y pasudlon nga mga interim officials ug kana base sa kamanduan. Ato nang gipasabot ang management nga wala na’y ipasulod nga interim officials gawas kung mosulod sila ug magbayad sa ilang water bill, wala kana kuwestiyon,” Caño, a member of the COWD board of directors, said.
In a statement, COWD interim general manager, Fermin Jarales, said they respect the court decision.
He said they will take appropriate action as he claimed that the decision is not yet final and executory.
It can be recalled that LWUA took over the management of COWD a day after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered the agency to solve the conflict between COWD and its bulk water supplier, Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water, Inc. (COBI).
