By Restituto A. Cayubit Tacloban City – Many residents from this city and nearby towns served by the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) are worried about water service interruptions as two factions in the water agency fight for control. It was learned that the five-member LMWD board of directors who were appointed by the Leyte governor for a sixth term refuse to give way to the new set of directors appointed by Mayor Cristina Romualdez. The feud has come to a point where each faction has appointed their own general manager. The new group of directors was appointed by Romualdez on the basis of a Supreme Court decision last August 8. The group claims to have the support of the employees’ union and the city of Tacloban. It also dispelled public apprehensions that water service will be affected by the infighting. The Romualdez appointees hold office at the LMWD office, in the city, and the incumbent directors at the Leyte Academic Center (LAC), in Palo, Leyte, a town adjacent to Tacloban. In a press conference called by the sitting directors last Monday, they also dispelled public fears of water service being cut off. One incumbent director, who requested anonymity, vouched for the sitting board’s legitimacy, saying they have the confirmation from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). The Romualdez appointees went to court to press their case, but the court turned down their petition, saying their appointment “may not yet be complete” because the LWUA board was still reviewing their case. LMWD serves this city of Tacloban and the municipalities of Dagami, Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo, Tabon-Tabon, Sta. Fe and Pastrana and Jaro.