Solon wants review of Maynilad franchise amid Las Piñas water interruptions

MANILA — The franchise granted to Maynilad should be reviewed following the water interruptions in areas like Las Piñas, according to the city’s Congressman, Mark Santos.

There are provisions under the water services provider’s franchise stating that the water supply must be continuous, Santos said during a House Committee on Public Works and Highways hearing on Wednesday.

“If they’re violating that, we should ask them, ‘Ano po ba ang problema?'” Santos said, adding that the issue extends to other cities such as Muntinlupa and Parañaque.

RA 11600 of 2021 grants Maynilad a 25-year franchise to operate and maintain a waterworks system.

Section 7, in particular, states that Maynilad “shall provide water supply and sewerage services to its service area in a prudent, efficient, and satisfactory manner.”

For Santos, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises should look into Maynilad’s capital expenditure (capex) and where its funds are invested.

If the water services provider continues citing weather patterns like El Niño as a reason for issues, Santos said its franchise should go to a different company.

Maynilad Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communication Anette De Ocampo said they do not sacrifice good service in order to boost profit.

“Hindi naman po kami nagtitipid. Be assured po na malaki po ang ginagastos ng Maynilad. In fact, pagka po tiningnan niyo ang books, mayroon po kaming tinatawag na opening cash position. ‘Yun po ang amount na na-invest na po ng Maynilad na hindi pa po nare-recover through our tariff. Hindi pa po namin ‘yun na-i-implement na tarrif. Malaking-malaki po siya,” De Ocampo said.

Maynilad spends billions to upgrade plants, she added.

De Ocampo acknowledged that more Maynilad water interruptions are possible due to the expected “very strong” El Niño this year.

This was after Santos said De Ocampo told him there would be no more interruptions by December.

“Nangako po sila sa ‘kin. December, wala na pong interruption. Nakausap ko na po ‘yan – sina Ms. Anette. At sa office ko, nag-usap po kami,” Santos said.

“Sabi nila, pagdating ng December, wala nang water interruption. Totoo po ba ‘yung sinasabi niyo na December, wala na tayong water interruptions?”

De Ocampo replied that if the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) reduces the water allocation for the Metropolitan Manila and Waterworks System (MWSS), Maynilad may “have to” have water interruptions.

“‘Yung sa December na interruption, kung wala po, we’re hoping po na wala, even po the El Niño, the very strong El Niño that’s expected to be happening po ngayong last quarter. So ‘pag nangyari po ‘yun, as you may know, binababaan na po kasi, like for this month po, binabaan na po ng NWRB ‘yung allocation for MWSS,” De Ocampo said. 

“So ‘pag nangyari po ‘yun na bababaan pa rin po nila, because po kailangan nilang i-manage para po makarating tayo hanggang summer of next year na kakailanganin pong gawin ‘yun, then we may have to be doing po interruption. But I’m not saying po na mangyayari ‘yun. ‘Yun lang po ‘yung baka sakali pong mangyari because po of the very strong El Niño na forecasted po ng PAGASA,” De Ocampo added.

The issue was tackled by the House committee after Santos filed House Resolution 864, which seeks an inquiry into the recurring water supply interruptions in Las Piñas under the service coverage of Maynilad.