Marcos urges water concessionaires to study, accept new contract

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Tuesday urged Maynilad and Manila Water to study and accept the new contracts which would replace the current deal which contain “onerous” provisions.

Marcos issued the statement as President Rodrigo Duterte warned the water concessionaires to accept the new contracts or else get their water contracts canceled.

“I urge water concessionaires to study and accept the new contract of PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte),” Marcos said in a statement.

“It is the Filipino people’s human right to have reliable, affordable water Any commercial interests can only be secondary to that right,” she added.

But presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday clarified that there is still no guarantee that the water concessionaires will not be prosecuted for the crafting of the deals.

“Should Maynilad and Manila Water refuse to accept the new agreements, the Chief Executive will order the cancellation of their present water contracts, mandate the nationalization of water services in their respective areas of operation and prosecute all those involved, directly or indirectly, in the arrangement that led to the present suffering of the Filipino people,” Panelo said.

Duterte earlier threatened to sue the water concessionaires over their “onerous” 1997 contracts with the government.

The president said that among these “onerous” provisions were the prohibition against government interference in rate-setting and the provisions on indemnification for possible losses in the event of such interference.