Section 3May 25, 1973, Sec./Art. 3

Definitions. - As used in this Decree, the following words and terms shall have the meanings herein set forth, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context. The definition of a word or term applies to any of its variants.

(a) Act. This Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973.

(b) Appointing authority. The person empowered to appoint the members of the board of Directors of a local water district, depending upon the geographic coverage and population make-up of the particular district. In the event that more than seventy-five percent of the total active water service connections of a local water district are within the boundary of any city or municipality, the appointing authority shall be the mayor of that city or municipality, as the case may be; otherwise, the appointing authority shall be the governor of the province within which the district is located.

If portions of more than one province are included within the boundary of the district, and the appointing authority is to be the governors then the power to appoint shall rotate between the governors involved with the initial appointments made by the governor in whose province the greatest number of service connections exists.

(c) Administration. The Local Waters Utilities Administration chartered in Title III of this Decree.

(d) NEDA. The National Economic and Development Authority.

(e) Board or Board of Directors. The Board of directors of a district.

(f) Contracts. All agreements, including leases, conveyances and obligations.

(g) District. A local water district formed pursuant to Title II of this Act.

(h) Local Water Utility. Any district, city, municipality, province, investor-owned public utility or cooperative corporation which owns or operates a water system serving an urban center in the Philippines, except that said term shall not included the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) or any system operated by the Bureau of Public Work as successor to the Wells and Springs Department of the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority.

(i) Person. A natural person, corporation, cooperative, partnership, association, city, municipality or other juridical entity.

(j) Property. All real and personal property, including but not limited to: water, water rights, works, easements, rights of way.

(k) Street. Includes road, valley, avenue, highway or other public way.

(l) Trustee or Board of Trustees. The Board of trustees of the Administration.

TITLE II

LOCAL WATER DISTRICT LAW

Chapter I

Title