IN 1981, Agustin Carillo was merely 15 years old when he started working at Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) as a laborer.
This year, Carillo is now in his 45th year as a COWD employee now as a water maintenance man.
The inspiring journey in longevity of government service was the highlight of the 53rd anniversary celebration of COWD held August 1 at City Tourism Hall in Cagayan de Oro.
At that exact date in 1975, COWD was formed as the first water district in the country.
Carillo and other employees with 25, 30 and 35 years as civil servants were honored and given plaques during the half-day affair complete with a hearty lunch.
But Carillo is not resting yet.
In an interview after the award presentation, he said he will continue working until his retirement in 2031 at the age of 65, hoping to snatch the record of the longest serving COWD employee in history at 50 years.
In his speech in the middle of the event, COWD chairman Dr. Gerry Caño reminded the employees that the government-operated utility was able to rise above its most challenging crisis, the aftermath of tropical storm Washi (local name Sendong).
“We proved that out of the greatest crises, we can forge the strongest foundations.This same spirit belongs to our field crews today who respond to midnight pipe bursts, our engineers managing our massive booster pumping stations, and our teams proactively collaborating with the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office and local barangays to crack down on water meter thefts in Carmen, Patag, and Sawaga,” Caño said.
He added that just like during Sendong, COWD is facing its own challenges today such as rapid urban growth, aging pipelines, non-revenue water, contract disagreements and others.
“The most powerful word in our theme is ‘together’. When we say ‘Together’, we do not just mean sitting in the same boardroom or working in the same office. We mean a deep, unyielding covenant to stand by our city when it needs us most,” Caño said. “Let us carry the pioneering, history-making spirit of 1973 into the challenges of today. Let us protect our water, secure our infrastructure, and ensure that clean, potable, and reliable life continues to flow across the City of Golden Friendship.”
