Press Release
March 20, 2019

Poe panel readies prelim report on Metro Manila water crisis; presses sanctions vs concessionaire, restructuring of MWSS Board

The Senate public services committee chaired by Sen. Grace Poe is set to release a preliminary report containing recommendations on the water crisis plaguing Metro Manila and parts of Rizal.

"Sa tingin ko, [ukol] dito sa Metro Manila... puwede na kaming gumawa ng preliminary report," said Poe in a radio interview on Wednesday, March 20, a day after Poe led an inquiry.

Poe said what surfaced at the five-hour long hearing was sufficient for her committee to recommend revamp at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and press water concessionaire Manila Water to compensate consumers caught by surprise with massive water interruptions.

"Itinulak natin na doon sa mga oras na walang tubig, 'wag nang mangolekta ng babayaran namin, o magbigay ng danyos at kung mayroong rebate sa ating mga customers doon sa perwisyo na nagawa nila. Malaki rin ang gastos, marami sa ating mga kababayan ang hindi nakapasok sa trabaho dahil nag-iigib ng tubig," Poe explained.

For Poe, it was evident that the water industry regulator lacked foresight in dismissing the concessionaires' earlier warnings that water shortage was in the offing as early as a few years back.

"Unang una, alam naman ng MWSS na magkukulang ang tubig, last year pa. Pero imbes na sila ay gumawa ng hakbang o pinilit ang Manila Water na gumawa ng solusyon agad-agad, ang una nilang ginawa ay i-deny nila na mayroong water shortage," said Poe, referring to assertions by MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco that supply in Angat Dam was still sufficient at the time water concessionaires flagged warnings.

"May tubig nga do'n [Angat], pero kulang naman sa pagdadaluyan o mga aqueducts, kaya sa demand na tumaas ay talagang kulang pa rin ang tubig na nirarasyon," Poe added.

MWSS should be at the forefront of identifying measures to avert a crisis. "Ang MWSS ay siyang dapat nagsasabi, nakikita na kung mayroong pagkukulang ang mga concessionaires na 'yan o mga korporasyon na 'yan. Maaga pa lang, dapat sila na ang nagsasabing ayusin ninyo 'yan, pero tila hindi nila nakita, o ayaw nilang makita."

At the same time, Poe said it was important that MWSS chief regulator lawyer Patrick Ty made a sudden turnaround after being lectured by senators as to why the regulator could not impose penalties against Manila Water. Still, Ty said it would take until June for the MWSS regulatory office to come up with a decision and a definite computation as regards fines against the water concessionaire.

The panel's report would also touch on who should compose the MWSS as the industry requires expertise of civil engineers, finance and recognized labor leaders as stated in the MWSS Charter. Currently, the MWSS board comprises two retired military and police officials, a chemical engineer and six lawyers.

"Parang nagpalusot ba... 'Yan ay teknikal, ang kailangan natin diyan ay inhinyero. Civil engineers ang nakalagay sa regulasyon nila. Siguro, sa ating Pangulo, 'pag siya ay nag-isip kung anong maaaring gawin, isa ito sa puwede niyang pagtuunan ng pansin at palitan ng mga magagaling na engineers para hindi mangyari ito ulit," Poe said.

Poe said her committee will then conduct hearings in the provinces to assess the damages and look into the extent of water shortage as some provinces have started to feel the effects of the dry season.

Likewise, Poe's committee will scrutinize the loan agreement with China for the construction of the Kaliwa Dam in Quezon province, amid charges that a provision of the deal could effectively allow Beijing to take full control of Manila's patrimonial resources in case of a default.

She said she would await submissions of the MWSS administrator who vowed to forward to senators a copy of the financing for Kaliwa Dam, which was sealed when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the country in November last year.

"Titingnan din natin 'yan para maisama natin sa committee report nang sa gano'n ay maging public record at puwedeng busisiin ng lahat," said Poe.

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