Duterte orders review of all govt contracts for ‘onerous provisions’ — Palace
Credit to Author: CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT| Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2019 04:44:52 +0000
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a review of all government contracts to remove any “onerous” provisions detrimental to public interest, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
The President during the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang on Monday directed Solicitor General Jose Calida and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to study, among others, the arbitration case involving Maynilad Water Services Inc., the Metro Manila west zone water concessionaire, and the Philippine government, Palace Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.
Panelo said the Chief Executive then instructed all agencies “to check and review all contracts entered into and remove onerous provisions that might be detrimental to the lives of the Filipinos.”
“He reiterated his vow to protect the people of the Republic of the Philippines,” Panelo added.
In October 2018, Maynilad scored a victory at the High Court of Singapore over the P3.44-billion compensation it sought from the Philippine government for revenue losses as a result of the unimplemented water rate adjustment.
The water company said the decision became final after the Philippine government opted not to take the case to the Court of Appeals, the upper division of Singapore’s Supreme Court.
Maynilad holds the concession granted by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to provide water and sewerage services in the west service area of Metro Manila.
Guevarra said the review would focus on the “certain provisions of the concession agreement that unduly tie the hands of the Republic.”
The post Duterte orders review of all govt contracts for ‘onerous provisions’ — Palace appeared first on The Manila Times Online.