On August 16, 1986 Mayor Venancio L. Laplana, Jr. was appointed OIC-Municipal Mayor of the Municipality of Dueñas, Province of Iloilo, Philippines. Three (3) months later the Local Executive and other local officials made a proposal for the establishment of a water district in the municipality. The Municipal Mayor consulted various agencies such as the DPWH, the Provincial Government of Iloilo and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Later the Municipal Mayor with the assistance of Mr. Bertier R. Catalan consulted Honorable Narciso D. Monfort who at that time the Congressman of the 4th District of the Province of Iloilo. The Congressman made the follow-up for the approval of the project to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). MPDC Eng’r. Primitivo A. Hervas was assigned by the Local Chief Executive to coordinate with the JICA and LWUA representatives including the EDCOP Consultants for the inspection and survey of existing springs and other pertinent data needed by said agencies. Their burning desires to accelerate a better changes of living conditions of the locality took pains and efforts in planning to put up or form a Water District to supply potable water needs of the Urban residents of the town with future plan for expansion towards the adjoining Barangays.
The Dueñas Water District or DWD was created by virtue of Resolution No.47 series of 1987 dated September 25, 1987 of the Sangguniang Bayan of Dueñas, Iloilo. On October 15, 1987 call for nomination for Water District Board of Directors coming from different sectors of this community and on November 13, 1987 Organizational meeting for the following set of officers:
Mr. Ernesto L. Lamera – Chairman (Civic Organization)
Mr. Bertier R. Catalan – Vice Chairman (Professional Sector)
Mr. Generoso S. Tubal – Member (Business Sector)
Mr. Josue S. Labaro – Member (Educational Sector)
Mrs. Helen L. Flores – Secretary-Treasurer (Women Sector)
June 14, 1988 signing of By-Laws and Certification Program of the Board of Directors and appointing Mr. Oliver L. Laplana as Acting General Manager of Dueñas Water District as per DWD Resolution No. 01, Series of 1988 of June 14, 1988. On June 18, 1988 DWD Board Resolution No. 02 was passed adopting the By-Laws and Resolution No. 03 adopting the Certification Program. Conditional Certification of Conformance No. 345 was issued by LWUA on June 20, 1988. Mr. Bertier R. Catalan was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors replacing Mr. Ernesto L. Lamera. May 28, 1990 the Dueñas Water District received the Membership Certificate from the Philippines Association of Water Districts. MPDC Eng’r. Primitivo A. Hervas was appointed Acting Manager replacing Mr. Oliver L. Laplana.
On January 11, 1991 after a series of surveys and preparation of documents needed and pumping tests on existing wells were done the location of the site of the water source and proposed pumping station on the portion of Lot No. 925-C located at Barangay Capuling was granted. Again, by August 1, 1994 Eng’r. Edilberto R. Romero was appointed as General Manager. On August 24, 1995 Dueñas Water District started its operation with 92 service connections. On March 16, 1998 Eng’r. Edgar L. Lamera was appointed as DWD General Manager upon resignation of Eng’r. Edilberto R. Romero. On October 3, 2003 DWD Office transferred to its newly constructed building located at Lagos Street, Poblacion
D, Dueñas, Iloilo. Said building came from the CDF of the late Congressman Narciso D. Monfort, 4th District, Province of Iloilo.
Drilling of Well No. 02 located at DGCHS Compound was completed on August 25, 2006: Well Depth – 24 meters, Well Casing 150 mm. Pump test was conducted with Well capacity of 3 lps. On February 6, 2007 DWD has an expansion of pipelines from DGCHS to Barangay Ponong Grande, Dueñas, Iloilo and started its operation on March 18, 2008. Memorandum of Agreement between Department of Education and DWD for the use of Lot No. 112 of DGCHS for Well No. 02 was signed on August 15, 2007. On October 15, 2007 DWD started supplying water to Brgy. Pandan, Dueñas, Iloilo.
In March 2014 drilling of Well No. 03 located at Catalan Subdivision, Poblacion C, Duenas, Iloilo started. Said lot is owned by Col. Bertier R. Catalan, PA (RES). He offered his Lot for the district in order to have another water source to supply the whole Poblacion and to the neighboring barangays. Well No. 03 started supplying water to DWD pipelines last September 27, 2014.
The Dueñas Water District is now in its full swing with its on-going improvements and proper distribution. The management is open to feedbacks from the concessionaires which are very important for the system management and good delivery of service.
The Board of Directors will always be ready to formulate policies for the betterment of Dueñas Water District for the years to come together with the General Manager.
Lastly, the Dueñas Water District will; never stop to grow and will always do its part in bringing safe, adequate and potable water to each and every concessionaire of the District.
