Philippine Star, Mar. 26, 2019, Manila Water Sued.pdf

E STAR

news

TUESDAY

I

Manila Water sued the voluntarv commitment of Manila Watdr to susPend the grouPS Bagong collection of water bills cover-

By RHODINA VILLANUEVA

Militant

Alyansang Makabayan (BaYan) and Bayan Muna Yesterday asked the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Sysiem (MWSS) to Penalize Manila Water Co. for the wa-

ing the service interruPtion

of Metro Manila.

chase of water containers and drums and other costs incurred

period and ensure Public Par-

ticipation in any proceedings. The petitioners asked the MWSS to order Manila Water to srant.rebales to all consum-

ter shortage problem being .ri *hich would cover the experienced in the east zone cost foi the emergency Pur-

In a 21-page complaint,

Bayan secretary general Re- during.the period of service

mine how households, businesses and government offices were severelv affected bv the water crisisl A sPecial aisessment will have to be conducted," Reyes said, adding that with the filing of the co"molaint, consumers could no# expect a response and action from the MWSS. The MWSS insisted due process on ihe penalties to Le imoosed on Manila Water aJAr r litant groups filed the complaints against the AYalaled firm. The MWSS Regulatory Office sai.d it would still study the petition filed by Bayan and Bavan Muna. i'I explained to them that we will te studying it and see what we can do. We have to review it as we are bound bY

nato Reyes and Bayan Muna inteffuption. They also urged the MWSS party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said Manila Water should be to order Manila Water to waive penalized for violating the the P8d14 mirrimuni charge for all customelaccounts thai exconcession agreement, Reyes and Zarate were ac- perienced service interruPtion companied by residents of and consumed 10 cubic meters Mandaluyong and Quezon or less per month. Reyes said they n ould call City in filing the complaint for public participation in the before MWSS. The complainants said the determination of penalties to the concession agreement and what we can actua$ do is very water company violated its ob- be imposed on Manila Water. limited," MWSS chief regulaHe said thev would ask the provide continuous ligation to MWSS to hold public hearings tor Patrick Ty told iournalists water supply to consulners. vesterday. They said the MWSS-Reg- in every affected city. ' "I cannot just say that they deternecessary to "This is ulatory Office should act on

are guilty and then Penalize them because thev can use that asainst us and sue us. I am eiiing them due Process and"the opportunitY for them to explain;hy theyihould not be penalized," Ty said. the MWSS Regulatory Office has asked Manila Water to explain and gave the comPanY fiv-e davs or until Saturday to

.""noni.

'I

hope the public under-

stands that we carmot iust imoose administrative fines. This isbeyond the Regulatory Office since we have limited authoritY. We are not lile the other regulatorv offices that can fine or iszue s.,6poe.,a9" Ty

"aid. OfThe MWSS-Regulatory fice had a meeting with Manila Water to discuss comPensa-

tion for affected consumers and the possibility of forgoing

bill colltiction for the time beins. - With Louise Maureen Simeon, Edu Punay, Paolo

Romero, Helen Flores, Romina Cabrera, Delon Porcalla

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