Brief History

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND


Santa Maria Water District was established February 26, 1996 by virtue of SB Resolution No. 96-10 approved and adopted by the local legislative body on even date. It affirmed among others the organization and formation of SANTA MARIA DISTRICT, creation of the 5-member Board of Directors, appointed and initial terms of office of the Board of Directors title pursuant to Sec. 3, Title I of PD No. 198 as amended. Its establishment was duly recognized and confirmed by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) with Certificate No. 554, Conditional Certificate of Conformance issue and signed by the LWUA Administrator and Chairman of the Board of Trustees April 22, 1996.

March 15, 1997, the LWUA Board of Trustess approved a Php 11.324M financial assistance to Santa Maria Water District to finance the contruction of its water supply system. LWUA partially implemented the Water District project using the Php 4.124M CIA. The balance of Php 7.613M for the overhead storage tank has yet to be release pending approval of ADB financing.

August 1998, the water supply system project was completed through the joint financial assistance of then Senator Letecia Ramos Shahani, Congressman Ranjit Ramos Shahani and the support and cooperation of the local government then under the administration of Mayor Jose C. Ginez. The local government donated a 500 square meter lot as equity in the project.

September 24, 1998, the water system project was inaugurated by Hon. Ranjit Ramos Shahani, Hon. Prudencio M. Reyes, Jr. Administrator of Local Water Utilities Administration assisted by Hon. Pinky O. Ginez, Municipal Mayor and witnessed by local government officials, LWUA personnel and officials of Water District.

November 8, 1998, the system was operational and functional initially with 100 services connections covering the areas of barangays Poblacion East, Poblacion West, and San Alejandro. A master plan for expansion programs has been laid out with barangays San Patricio, and San Vicente as the target for 1999. A Workshop and Storage building of the Water District will soon rise with approved by LWUA of a Php 0.450M Level III loan.

Santa Maria Water District is a government-owned and controlled corporation as resolved by the Supreme Court November 12, 1992. It is an autonomous agency free from political influence and independent of any local government and which entity take charge and operate the local water utility on a self-supporting and business like manner.