MANILA, Philippines – The apology from the Zobels and the waiving of Manila Water Company Inc.’s minimum charge are not enough to address the water woes affecting customers, a progressive group said Thursday.
Despite this, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes said that the message from Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and Fernando Zobel de Ayala — vice chairperson and chairperson, respectively, of Manila Water’s Board of Directors — is a welcome development.
“The Ayala apology for the water crisis, while welcome, is of course not enough. People continue to demand the restoration of 24/7 water services as well as a just compensation for the added costs, inconvenience and lost income that they incurred during the water service interruption,” Reyes said in a message to reporters.
“The one-time bill waiver is not enough since the added costs incurred by consumers far exceed their average monthly bill,” he added.
Last Tuesday, Manila Water announced that it is waiving the minimum charge for the first 10 cubic meters consumption for all customers, aside from not charging accounts severely affected by the water interruption.
READ: Manila Water waiving minimum charge in April over supply woes
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Jaime Augusto said he and his brother take responsibility for their shortcomings of the company.
READ: Zobels take responsibility for Manila Water’s shortcomings
Reyes also cast doubt on pronouncements that the P150 million bill waiver is all that Manila Water could offer for now, saying it is just a small part of the company’s overall income for 2018.
“The cost of the bill waiver, according to Manila Water, will be around P150 million. That’s just 2.3% of Manila Water’s P6.5 billion net income for 2018,” Reyes explained.
“Surely, Manila Water can do better. It should pay the necessary penalties to government, provide reasonable rebates for household, businesses and hospitals, and expand the coverage of the bill waiver. It is time for the Ayalas to sacrifice their billions in profits for the sake of suffering consumers,” he said.
The one-time bill waiver is just one of the requests of Bayan, Bayan Muna and other consumers in a petition filed before the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System – Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO).
Aside from the waiver, petitioners asked MWSS in the 21-page document to order Manila Water to provide a rebate in respect for the expenses incurred due to the interruptions, such as the purchase of containers and the effect on livelihood and jobs.
They also asked that Manila Water be disallowed from implementing pending rate hikes until a through performance review.
READ: Groups want Manila Water penalized
However, MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty previously insisted that they cannot fine Manila Water and seek damages from them, adding that RO’s power is limited to penalizing water concessionaires by form of rebates.
He also said that he plans to implement rebates by June or July, to give Manila Water time to fix the water problem and to give due process as well.
“Sa (damages dahil sa) abala? That’s not within the purview ng MWSS RO, ang ganyan ay dapat sa korte. Pwede mag-file ng court case ang ating consumers laban sa Manila Water,” Ty clarified. /gsg
READ: Go to court, says MWSS to dissatisfied Manila Water customers
READ: MWSS aims for full rebates for Manila Water customer