MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed retired Army Brig. Gen. Ricardo Morales to the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

Morales will serve in the board in place of vice chair Reynaldo Velasco until June 30, 2019, according to his appointment paper dated May 27 but was released on Tuesday.

READ: Palace releases appointment paper of retired Army Gen. Ricardo Morales as replacement of Reynaldo Velasco to the MWSS Board of Trustees @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/4WJX1xoQii — Arianne Merez (@arianne_merez) June 4, 2019

President Duterte earlier said he appointed Morales as chairman of the MWSS.

Velasco, in a phone call with reporters Tuesday, said he would assume the chairmanship of the MWSS while former chairman Franklin Demonteverde would be transferred to the Judicial and Bar Council.

Demonteverde is still chairman of the MWSS pending their respective official appointments, said Velasco.

Justice Chief Menardo Guevarra told ABS-CBN News that he had not received word on Demonteverde's transfer to the JBC.

The President previously threatened to replace all officials of the MWSS due to the water shortage in Metro Manila's east zone and for failing to prepare for El Niño, a weather pattern associated with reduced rainfall which has been affecting several parts of the country.