Sen. Imee Marcos signaled on Thursday she is set to ask the Senate to look into the impending series of water-supply interruptions expected to hit over 15 million customers of Maynilad and Manila Water in Metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces this week.
In a news statement, Marcos affirmed her determination to make both water-supply firms answerable for any consumer inconvenience to be caused by the announced “daily rotational service interruptions” set to start on October 24.
The senator stressed that the two water concessionaires should have adequately prepared for the anticipated water-supply crisis affecting their customers, as well as big and small businesses in affected areas.
“Kawawa naman ang mga mahihirap na pamilya at ang mga maliliit na negosyo, gaya ng karinderya, car wash at laundry shops na gumagamit ng tubig sa araw-araw,” said Marcos.
She noted this will be the second time that consumers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces will be made to suffer a water-supply crisis since the dry season.
“Ito na ang pangalawang pagkakataon na mararanasan ang krisis sa tubig sa Metro Manila at karatig probinsya na tumama nitong nakaraang panahon ng tag-init,” she said.
Marcos recalled that President Duterte had already castigated the private water concessionaires earlier, warning that the government could opt to terminate their supply contract. “Di ba nasabon at binalaan na sila ni Pangulong Duterte na ite-terminate ang concession agreements noong Marso dahil sa kapalpakan nila, pero ngayon wala pa rin silang solusyon sa problema sa tubig.”
An irate Marcos stressed that consumers should not be made to sacrifice for the failure of water suppliers to fulfill their service contracts. “Alam naman nila na may kakulangan sa supply nito. Bakit ang mga tao ang babalikat ng sakripisyo?” she protested.
The first-term lawmaker indicated that the Senate can review the concession agreements of the two water companies that were given exclusive rights by the government to operate and maintain water utilities, and recover their investments.
She noted that directly affected by the water supply crisis are over 15 million customers of Maynilad and Manila Water in Metro Manila, as well as the nearby provinces of Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan.
The senator noted that Maynilad, in announcing an 18-hour rotational service daily interruptions starting October 24, cited low water levels in Angat and Ipo Dams blamed on lack of rainfall. She, however, cited a recent report from the weather bureau that Angat Dam’s water level rose to 187.53 meters, slightly higher than its 180 meters normal level, while Ipo Dam was at low level of 100.76 meters from its 101-meter maintaining level.