Senate Trade and Commerce Committee Chair Koko Pimentel III on Wednesday said that the P1.134 billion fine levied by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Board on Manila Water Company, Inc. would benefit all consumers as it showed how government is serious in holding public utility providers accountable for failing to fulfill obligations to their customers.
“I believe that the government sent a very clear signal, not just to water service providers, but all those who provide public utilities, that it will not stand idly by when consumers suffer from the mismanagement and lack of foresight of companies like Manila Water,” said the senator from Mindanao.
“Malinaw ang mensahe dito: di na pwede ang ‘just-tiis,’ because our people demand justice—and that was what was meted out in the sanctions imposed by MWSS,” stressed the lawmaker.
“The President made it abundantly clear that those responsible should be held accountable, and that is what happened here.”
The MWSS announced on Wednesday that it would impose a fine totalling P1.134 billion on Manila Water as a penalty for the water shortage that occurred last March in the areas serviced by the water concessionaire.
The penalty is broken down into a P534.05 million fine and P600 million for the fund meant for the development of new water supply sources. The penalties are on top of Manila Water’s self-imposed penalty amounting to P500 million that provided financial relief to its customers affected by the water shortage.
Pimentel said the penalties were appropriate given that even businesses were disrupted by the water interruptions.
“We cannot quantify the discomfort suffered by the residents affected. As for the businesses that could not operate normally, the water shortage meant losses they will not be able to recover,” lamented the lawyer.
“We cannot quantify the discomfort suffered by the residents affected.”
The PDP-Laban President credited the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte “for giving the MWSS clear marching orders as to how to deal with this issue.”
“The President made it abundantly clear that those responsible should be held accountable, and that is what happened here.”
In a statement, Manila Water President Ferdinand M. dela Cruz said the company would abide by the decision of the MWSS to pay the financial sanctions.
The penalties were announced by MWSS Chairman Franklin J. Demonteverde and Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco, who said that “the water shortage was an eye-opener.”
“We are on a catch up mode and it’s only this administration under President Rodrigo Duterte that we have seriously put on track a realistic and doable water security roadmap to ensure adequate water supply,” said Velasco.
