SC seeks compliance reports on Clean Water Act

The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other government agencies to submit a report on their compliance with Republic Act No. 9275, otherwise known as The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

The 15-member tribunal also ordered private water concessionaires Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water Company Inc. to present a list of areas they were currently servicing as stated in their respected concession agreements with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

Besides the DENR, required to furnish the high court of their compliance reports were the Department of Health, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the National Sewerage and Septage Management Program Office of the DPWH, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Local Water Utilities Administration and the Laguna Lake Development Authority.

“All parties to these cases and all government agencies directed in this resolution may traverse any or all of the manifestations submitted within 15 days from receipt of the last manifestation required by this resolution,” read the high court’s April 4 resolution released last week.

Acting on the petitions filed by Maynilad and Manila Water, the court instructed the DENR to submit a status report of their actions regarding Rule 7.1.1 and 8.2 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 9275 and other provisions on the law.