MWSS chief ready to resign if he fails to solve water crisis

MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator Reynaldo Velasco on Wednesday expressed readiness to resign if he fails to comply with President Duterte's directive to solve the water crisis. 

Velasco said water regulators were given until April 7 to fix the problem, which affected some businesses and caused long lines for water rations in parts of Metro Manila and Rizal province. 

He said while the president warned MWSS officials to "shape up or ship out," he did not ask them to quit.

"In other words, fix it. If you can't, go. We were given the chance to fix it so I am fixing it so he won't fire me," Velasco said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

"Kakayanin natin iyan (We can do it). if I cannot do it, I will resign immediately," he added. 

While some lawmakers are calling for his immediate resignation, Velasco does not see the need to step down from his post for now.

"I would like to remind you that all of us in the board (serve at the) pleasure of the president. We are presidential appointees...In fact, I was telling a while ago, if he had sought the resignation of the board, I would have volunteered. I would take responsibility, spare the board," Velasco said. 

"But he did not ask (us whether we would resign) so I'm still here," the MWSS administrator added. 

Velasco admitted he and other officials got a dressing down from Duterte during their meeting in Malacañang last Tuesday. He admitted water regulators were surprised by the water interruptions. 

Velasco said they would rather implement solutions than explain their side on the issue. 

"He (Duterte) said if you cannot do it, tell me. I would do it myself. Why would we let the president do it when he already has a lot of problems. We take it upon ourselves," he said. 

"Sinabon naman kami, pero binanlawan kami pagkatapos, so walang problema (We got a dressing down but there's no problem."

Velasco could not say how Duterte intends to terminate the contracts of water concessionaires in case they fail to solve the crisis. 

"I think this is a very legal issue. I'm sure the president when he does that he will have his legal team to look into this because there are several implications. For example, how will the government return the costs they incurred over the years. From our experience, that's the problem we are expecting," Velasco said. 

"But the president said he would not do that if (the crisis) is fixed...And I am telling them to cooperate," he added. 

MWSS: China-funded dam project not too costly

The water crisis has prompted calls for the government to tape new sources of water. One of the projects designed to ensure adequate water supply is the P12.2-billion Kaliwa Dam, which will be funded through an official development assistance from China.

Some local officials and civil society groups are against the building of the dam, saying it would displace residents and inundate the ancestral domain of the Dumagat-Remontados. Administration critics also claimed that the Kaliwa Dam is disadvantageous to the Philippines because of the allegedly high interest rates to be charged by China.

Japanese firm Global Utility Development Corporation (GUDC) has claimed that the China-funded project would cost the Philippines some $800 million, way more expensive than its proposal which costs about $410 million. 

But Velasco insisted that the project to be funded by Chinese loans is cheaper than the Japanese company's proposal. He said the project would only cost $248 million or P12.2 billion, not $800 million as claimed by GUDC. 

"It's not true that the Kaliwa Dam is too costly," the MWSS administrator said. 

Officials also denied claims that the China-funded projects would only favor Chinese workers. Finance assistant secretary Antonio Lambino II said only 178 highly technical Chinese workers are involved in public infrastructure projects.

He said 85 of the workers are working on the Chico River pump irrigation project while 88 others are assigned to the Estrella-Pantaleon and Binondo-Intramuros Bridges.

Government nixes Laiban dam project

While the Duterte administration is determined to build the Kaliwa Dam, it is not keen on pursuing the construction of the Laiban Dam in Tanay, Rizal. 

Velasco said the building of the Laiban Dam would require the government to relocate thousands of families. 

"Laiban is out insofar as this administration is concerned because of the social engineering nightmare that we'll encounter in resettling 4,800 families. Almost impossible. So we erased it from our midterm program," the MWSS official said. 

Velasco said the government remains open to building the Kanan Dam in Quezon province. 

Last year, the MWSS listed Laiban, Kaliwa and Kanan Dam as among the flagship projects that would ensure adequate, steady and sustainable water supply for Metro Manila and nearby provinces in the next 25 to 59 years.