The Metropolitan Cebu Water District Board of Directors disclosed that it has declared two board seats vacant following the announcement of two of its members — identified as Atty. Earl Bunachita and Atty. Danilo Ortiz — that they would not attend their future meetings.

MCWD chairperson Atty. Jose Daluz III told DAILY TRIBUNE that the declaration of vacancies was made as the two expressed in a letter addressed to him that they would no longer attend future meetings.

The same letter also cited their "refusal to recognize" the present board led by Daluz as a legitimate one.

"The civic and educator sectors are disenfranchised and essentially deprived representation in the MCWD Board," Daluz said, adding that the Local Water Utilities Administration and the mayors of the eight cities and towns the MCWD serves would also be notified of the declaration.

The incumbent board members aside from Daluz are vice chairperson Engr. Miguelito Pato and board secretary Jodelyn Seno.

In the vacancy declaration resolution, the BOD also instructed its secretary to begin "soliciting at least 10 nominees from their respective sectors within MCWD's service area."

The secretary is expected to present the list of nominees to the board on 8 January 2024. The list then will be submitted to Mayor Michael Rama for appointment of new BOD as Ortiz's and Bonachita's replacements.

Both Ortiz and Bonachita's terms are supposed to end in December 2028.