AGENCY PROFILE
Bato Water District (BWD) is a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC). Its operation is autonomous, free and independent from any political subdivision. The independent statute of the district guarantees and strengthens the prosecution of its corporate affairs in a business-like manner. It is governed by a legislative board of directors. The operation and management is delegated to and under the direct supervision and control of the General Manager.
BWD falls under category D effective March 2012. Small WD as it was classified in the early year having connections with only a couple of hundreds active connections, operating with a negative figures coupled with major water system facilities passing under water was such a major problem. The twin effect of hard labor, love of work and perseverance of the employees, and the maximize use of its limited financial and human resources, BWD was able to survive the challenges towards achieving its goal and objectives in providing uninterrupted water service to the people of the Municipality of Bato, Catanduanes.
COMPANY HISTORY
The Bato Water District (BWD) was formed on March 15, 1979 by virtue of Sanguniang Bayan Resolution No. 69 s, 1979. Its Conditional Certificate of Conformance CCC No. 101 was issued by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on November 7, 1979. It operates on the powers and authority conferred to it by Presidential Decree 198, otherwise known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973, as amended by PD 768 and PD 1479. LWUA, a government corporation served as the regulatory body of all local water districts providing financial, technical and regulatory services for the development of a water district
On September 21, 1991, Supreme Court Decision en banc GR No. 952-37.38 on the case of Davao City Water District et al versus Civil Service Commission declaring all local water districts as government owned and controlled corporation, as such Bato Water District then became a Government owned and controlled corporation. As a result employees’ recruitment, hiring and other concerns are under the coverage of the Civil Service Commission. Salaries, wages and other financial considerations are based on the issuances of the Department of Budget & Management subject to the usual accounting and auditing requirements being provided by the Commission on Audit.
On November 18, 2011, DBM Circular Letter No. 2011-10 re: Revised Local Water District Manual on Categorization, Re-categorization and Other Related Matters (LWD-MaCRO) was issued as a basis for determining the new category of local water districts. Having complied with the guidelines as provided for in the LWD-MaCRO and upon evaluation of documents submitted to Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Bato Water District (BWD) falls under CATEGORY D effective March 2012. As a result, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern (OS/SP) of the District with a total staffing of ten (10) positions consistent with the Model Organizational Structure/Staffing Pattern for CATEGORY D Water District.
BWD continue to exist despite of the challenges had faced in the past. As of December 31, 2015, the district has accumulated a total of 1,804 active service connections and is continue growing serving 13 barangays in the Municipality of Bato, Catanduanes.
At present BWD has 4 sources of water supply, 2 spring sources and 2 open sources. To augment supply of water during dry season, the stand-by source of Balongbong brook is being develop funded by the DPWH with filtration and treatment facilities inclusive in the project for the improvement of quality of water supply services provided to the people of Bato.
