President Duterte may be compelled to take “drastic” measures against water concessionaires Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. should it be proven that they have not undertaken necessary measures to prevent a looming water crisis in Metro Manila.
Malacañang issued the stern warning on Monday after the water concessionaires announced rotational interruptions last week due to low water levels at Angat and Ipo Dams.
“If they have not [undertaken steps] and the consequence of that is this looming water crisis again, then they have not done anything and that factor may compel the President to do something drastic against them,” Presidential Spokesman and Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Panelo also said it is obvious that the agencies may have not done enough to address the problem considering that Metro Manila is experiencing a second water crisis in just one year.
“Obviously. Otherwise, there would not be a looming crisis,” he said.
Asked what are the possible measures would the President may take, Panelo said the Chief Executive can either scrap the contract or make the water concessionaires accountable as suggested by some senators, noting that it is also up to the President whether heads will roll.
Sen. Imee Marcos has expressed her determination to make both water supply firms answerable for any customer inconvenience as she argued that the two water concessionaires should have adequately prepared for the crisis.
For his part, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to water concessionaires not to pass the burden to water consumers, such as the costs that the concessionaires should shoulder.
Meanwhile, the Palace also reiterated that the water crisis is not a front to push for the implementation of the controversial China-funded Kaliwa Dam project.
The Environmental Management Bureau has issued an environmental compliance certificate for the Kaliwa Dam project this month after it satisfied the requirements of the Environmental Impact Statement System.
Image credits: Robinson Ninal Jr./ Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP