Manila Water, Maynilad, gov't execs invited to Senate probe into water shortage
MANILA, Philippines — Representatives of private water concessionaires and government officials have been invited to the Senate inquiry into the water supply shortage in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
The Senate committee on public services, headed by Sen. Grace Poe, will conduct a hearing on water shortage next Tuesday.
Below is a list of invited resource persons for the Senate probe into the water shortage:
- Geodino Carpio - Chief Operating Officer, Manila Water
- Nestor Jeric Sevilla Jr. - Corporate Communications Head, Manila Water
- Randy Estrellado - Chief Operating Officer, Maynilad Water Services
- Edgar Doña - General Manager, Luzon Clean Water Development Corp.
- Guillermo Tabios - Director, University of the Philippines National Hydraulic Research Center
- Roy Cimatu - Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- Emmanuel Piñol - Secretary, Department of Agriculture
- Mark Villar - Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways
- Jeci Lapus - Administrator, Local Water Utilities Administration
- Sevillo David Jr. - Executive Director, National Water Resources Board
- Vicente Malano - Administrator, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
- Reynaldo Velasco - Administrator, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System
- Patrick Ty - Chief Regulator, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System
Poe pointed out that east zone concessionaire Manila Water has a lot to explain on the water shortage in Metro Manila and nearby province.
Manila Water customers in Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, Marikina, Makati, Pasig and Rizal province have been experiencing water supply interruptions since last week due to "operational adjustments."
"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.
The senator questioned why almost half of Metro Manila experienced water shortage when water level at Angat Dam was normal at 199.63, far from the 180-meter critical mark.
Manila Water had explained that it is limited to an allocated supply of 1,600 million liters per day (MLD) from Angat Dam, which is 40 percent of the dam's allocated volume for MWSS. Water demand in the east concession zone has exceeded 1,600 MLD.
"While it is true that Angat water level is currently normal, water from Angat is conveyed through several tunnels and aqueducts into La Mesa, before it reaches to the Balara Treatment Plants and the East La Mesa Treatment Plant," Manila Water said in an explainer sent to the Philippine Stock Exchange.
Water level at the La Mesa Dam has dipped to 68.74 meters as of 6 a.m. on March 14, its lowest since 1998. The dam's level is expected go down further for the rest of the summer.
An environmental watch group advises the public to conserve water all the more as parts of the country grapple with the effects of drought brought by the onset of El Niño.
In a statement, the EcoWaste Coalition calls on Metro Manila households to take water conservation more seriously while also calling on establishments to intensify water conservation measures.
“We join our water authorities in asking household, businesses and government institutions in Metro Manila to use water more wisely amid the declining water level in Angat, Ipo and La Mesa Dams,” Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste national coordinator, says.
She adds: “Let us all aim for zero water waste to reduce the impacts of low water supply during the summer months to the people, especially the poor, and the environment.”
The water level in La Mesa Dam is now below critical level at 68.93 meters due to the summer season and the El Niño phenomenon.
Maynilad customers in Caloocan, Malabon and Quezon will experience low pressure to no water starting 1 p.m. today, June 27.
The emergency water service interruption is expected to last till 9 p.m.
"We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you," Maynilad says in a tweet.
Manila Water is now operating an additional 34 deep wells in its concession area to help meet the demand of customers while the new water sources are being completed.
As of June 9, 2019, 43.42 million liters of water per day have been drawn from these deep wells and is seen to bring more water supply upon full operation of more deep wells in the coming months.
"The operation of these deep wells is vital to recovering our service towards 24/7 supply at 7 psi or pressure up to the ground level as one of the means of augmenting the water supply deficit," Manila Water Corporate Strategic Affairs Group Head Jeric Sevilla says.
Manila Water President Ferdinand dela Cruz says in a statement that he will abide by the decision of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to pay a financial penalty upon over its momentary inability to meet its service obligations to provide round-the-clock water supply to consumers.
The MWSS board has sanctioned Manila Water Company Inc. with a total of P1.134 billion fine and an additional P600 million fund for development of a new water supply source following the water shortage last month that affected parts of Metro Manila and neighboring towns.
The imposition of penalties on Manila Water was due to its failure to comply with Article 10.4 of the concession agreement or the 24-hour available supply in its service areas.
The MWSS Board sanctions Ayala-led Manila Water with P1.15 billion in fines following the supply mess last month.
— The STAR/Maureen Simeon
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