Gov’t, Senate probe Metro Manila water supply crisis
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2019 08:04:23 +0000
RESIDENTS rush to get water from a volunteer firetruck in Barangay Barangka Itaas, Mandaluyong City which is experiencing water supply interruption. (Mark Balmores)
The government has launched an investigation into the water supply interruption in Metro Manila amid concerns it might be artificial.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said there could be inefficiency and mismanagement in the water distribution if the report stating Angat Dam has adequate supply was true. Angat Dam is the major water supply source for Metro Manila.
“We are precisely investigating to know exactly what is happening or what’s the cause of the lack of water supply,” Panelo said. “Kung totoo na ang Angat Dam is punong-puno at lahat naman nanggagaling doon, oh di hindi nga totoo. So something is wrong with the efficiency in distributing as well as the quotas or the shares…Artificial lang iyon, kung ganoon,” he said.
He made public the information given by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana about the stable level of Angat Dam, main source of Metro Manila water, in an online chat with the Cabinet.
Panelo also wondered why Maynilad, a water concessioner, was not having the same problem as Manila Water even if both companies get the supply from Angat Dam. “If the source is puno, and another concessionaire has puno also. Eh bakit naman iyong isa hindi. Iyon ang logic doon,” he said.
If mismanagement is proven true, Panelo assured that the government would hold accountable those involved. “Kung sila ang may kasalanan, we will make sure that they will be accountable,” he said.
Manila Water has cut water supply in several areas in Metro Manila and Rizal since last week reportedly due to the declining water level of the La Mesa Dam. The Ayala-led water concessionaire mainly sources its water from Angat Dam but also gets reserve supply from La Mesa Dam.
The Senate Committee on Public Services will investigate starting March 19 the water crisis being experienced in several parts of Metro Manila and Rizal.
Sen. Grace Poe, committee chairperson, said yesterday she has invited concerned government officials and representatives from the private water concessionaires in the legislative inquiry that sought to address the “sudden” shortage in water supply, particularly in areas covered by the concessionaire Manila Water.
“Malaki ang dapat ieksplika ng Manila Water dito sa krisis na ito. Three weeks ago, walang abiso at hindi ramdam na magkukulang ang tubig. Tapos bigla na lang magigising ka na wala na? Tama ba naman ‘yon?” Poe said. (Genalyn Kabiling and Vanne Terrazola)