Head office of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System in Diliman, Quezon City. (Photo from the MWSS website)
MANILA, Philippines — The response of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) to a petition against Manila Water has not provided any solution to their concerns, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said.
Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes on Friday said that while MWSS-RO did not dismiss their petition, it did not heed their call for special rebates based on the Manila Water customers incurred financial losses due to water interruptions last March.
“Today we received the MWSS RO’s response to our petition. It is a one-page reply that did not outrightly dismiss our petition but also did not really provide any way forward,” Reyes said in a message sent to reporters.
“It did, however, reject the call for special rebates for the added costs and lost income incurred by customers during the service interruption,” he added.
He also relayed that they will consult their lawyers on what their next move would be.
“We will consult with our lawyers as to our next move. This latest episode shows that the concession agreement with Manila Water is truly against meaningful consumer participation, reducing our petition to one word: ‘noted’,” Reyes claimed.
The comments came after MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty replied to the petition filed by Reyes and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate last March.
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In the copy of petition also sent by Reyes, Ty noted that while they appreciate the interest and concern from the progressive groups, the MWSS RO has no quasi-judicial powers which may force Manila Water to provide rebates.
“We appreciate the interest and concern you have shown in the current water shortage being experienced by certain areas served by the concessionaire Manila Water Co. Inc. (MWCI). Rest assured we will always value your comments and suggestions as material inputs in our over-all considerations of the concession and especially in the deliberations we are undergoing,” Ty said.
“As regards with your prayer for rebate ‘covering the average reasonable cost for the unexpected emergency purchase of incidentals’, please recall that the Regulatory Office is not imbued with quasi-judicial power to decide on the matter. In view thereof, you may resort to the court to demand your rights,” he explained.
Ty previously said in an interview that they are taking extra care in releasing statements against Manila Water, which may be viewed as bias and can be used as a piece of evidence in arbitration cases.
He also mentioned that the petitioners can go to courts, as RO’s powers are limited.
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Reyes, however, clarified that they are also asking for the setting of a public hearing, which will place consumers and Manila Water administration in a table to discuss the issues.
“It said it noted our position on other issues but stopped short of setting the matter for a public hearing, which is the essence of consumer participation,” he said.
“The reply did not directly address the other issues raised in our petition, including a review of the Manila Water’s rate hike and the imposition of the penalty provisions in the concession agreement,” he added.