KAPATAGAN WATER DISTRICT

All about KAPWD

Kapatagan Water District (KAPWD), a government –owned and controlled corporation (GOCC), was officially created on September 12, 1988 by virtue of SB Res. No. 177-C in accordance with Sec.6, P.D. 198 otherwise known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973.

On October 24, 1989 KAPWD was issued a Certificate of Conditional Conformance (CCC 418) by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). During this time, Mr. Roberto C. Manatom Sr. acted as its Interim General Manager (IGM) who worked hard for the completion of the district’s documentary requirements. He served as IGM from October 24, 1989 to July 3, 1995. On February 27, 1997, having acquired the essential elements of a water system such as the pump, motor and electrical system, KAPWD began serving the public in an hourly basis through direct pumping method because there was no reservoir yet and generator at that time.

On April 1, 1998 to January 31, 1999 LWUA took over the Management of KAPWD with LWUA representative Engr. Luisito A. Jiongco acting as IGM. After IGM Jiongco, Engr. Leodigario T. Ababa Jr. took over as KAPWD First General Manager. For almost 3 years in service, GM Ababa was able to extend water services through mainline pipes to the Barangay Maranding, Lala, and Lanao Del Norte.

But GM Ababa did not stay beyond three years; he resigned as GM on March 15, 2002. His resignation prompted the BOD to appoint Dir. Buenalita B. Rañises to take the post vacated by former GM Ababa. Hesitant at First but through the encouragement of then Hon. Mayor Benny P. Baguio who believed in her capacity, GM Rañises accepted the appointment both as a challenge and opportunity to serve the public in another capacity as a general manager.

GM Rañises, before becoming the general manager first served at KAPWD as one of the member of the Board of Directors (BOD) representing the education sector who also concurrently acted as the Board vice chairman.

Being the General Manager, GM Rañises had to tackle the problems confronting the water. The problems are: a) unpaid maturing debt obligations, b) low water pressure, and c) delayed employees salary.

But even before becoming a GM, 9 months into the position as a BOD member, then Vice Chairman Rañises showed aggressiveness in finding ways and means to improve the services of the district. She initiated the construction of the first storage facility, a 130 cu.m ground reservoir in Brgy. Cathedral Falls. Thus, on January 16, 2000 KAPWD started serving the public 24/7, doing away with the hourly interval of its water service— to the delight of Kapatagan concessionaires. The list of Barangays which primarily benefited the enhanced services were the following:

Brgy. Cathedral Falls
Brgy. San Vicente
Brgy. Poblacion
Brgy. Maranding


On July 1, 2002 GM Rañises made another breakthrough in neighboring Lala Municipality particularly in Brgy. Maranding. A parallel distribution pipeline along the Highway of said Barangay was established which the people were so thankful. In May 2006, Brgy. Tiacongan was added to its new list of beneficiaries. Through KAPWD‘s prudent funds management, cash allocation was made for the establishment of pipeline going to said Barangay.

Always on the better services to its ever-growing number of concessionaires, GM Rañises has acquired the KFW Loan. Said loan, which she successfully defended during a deliberation in Manila with German investors,the said load was used to construct KAPWD’s second storage facility, a 130 cu.m ground reservoir and the acquisition of its second pump with 40 hp generators set on June 5, 2006- October 17, 2006. The new facilities were placed in upper Brgy. Cathedral Falls. The acquisition of these new facilities gave birth to another network of pipelines, thus improving its services in Kapatagan and more importantly augmenting the water supply in Brgy. Maranding and other interior villages of Lala Municipality. With those additions, Brgy. Maranding enjoyed the full water service of the KAPWD.

Capitalizing on the impressive monthly collection efficiency of KAPWD which ranges from 94 to 98 percent , the United States Agency for granted funding support to its plan of establishing extension pipeline in Barangays Curvada and Bag-ong Silang of Kapatagan.

Three years in 2009, the USAID-GEM granted yet again another funding for another set of pipelines to connect Barangays De Asis, Brgy Curvada and National Highway of Poblacion Kapatagan Lanao del Norte. The momentum of growth for KAPWD did not stop with USAID-GEM. In 2010 KAPWD became a recipient of a loan from NLIF (Non- LWUA Initiated Funds). This Fund was used to finance the rehabilitation and extension of its aging pipelines-changing P.E lines with uPVC lines, improved its system in the pump house, and further extended services to the waterless interior areas of Barangay Maranding- Lala and Kapatagan municipalities. The areas/Barangays that directly benefited from this improvement from this improvement were the Following:

Brgy Sto. Tomas- Kapatagan
Sitio Pinuyak – Maranding, Kapatagan
Sitio Naga – Maranding, Kapatagan
Stio Saavedra – Maranding, Lala
Brgy. Abaga – Lala
Sitio Panguil – Lanipao, Lala


KAPWD is now serving 3,587 consumers both in Lala and Kapatagan municipalities as of December 2012, a 36% growth from 1,359 before her assumption as GM. Its erratic, hourly water supply is now improved although need another upgrading of mainline pipes from the reservoirs down to Maranding Area. Payment of its debt obligation has been on time. And its employees have become more efficient and disciplined with the good leadership of GM Rañises and comparably better compensation and benefits package. Ten years of stirring the KAPWD,GM Rañises has shown the people of Kapatagan, Lala and its neighboring towns in the Province of Lanao del Norte what does excellent public service mean.