NAGA CITY -- Amid fraud allegation, Renato R. Dela Cruz, Division Manager of Metro Naga Water District (MNWD), on Tuesday assured that the provident fund intended for water district employees was neither mismanaged nor missing.

        He said that contrary to what a local radio commentator has alleged, the provident fund of MNWD has remained available since the water district established the fund in 1986 to provide supplementary welfare benefits to its employees.

        He accepted however that there were some changes and temporary delay in availing of the fund as a result of the recently-issued Executive Order 641 “authorizing the establishment and administration of provident funds in the government,” which is yet to have its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

        Earlier, the Office of the President through Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita issued an executive order governing the establishment and administration of provident fund by government-owned and/or controlled corporations such as MNWD, and government financial institutions.

        Dela Cruz told Bicol Mail that the water district had a General Assembly meeting in response to the Executive Order, where water district officials decided to wait for the IRR coming from the Department of Budget and Management before effecting the new provisions.

        He further added that the local radio commentator who insinuated the alleged fraud in the radio program he anchors has hurled tirades against the water district since his brother, previously a water district employee, was involved in an alleged irregularity involving his job.

        Provident funds have been customarily established by government agencies even before EO 641 to provide emergency and separation benefits to government employees.

        Sources of funds are contribution from provident fund members, and counterparts from the government and the particular agency.