Consumer groups ask SC to stop water hike

MANILA, Philippines – Water consumer groups filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition to the Supreme Court asking to stop the impending water price hike by Manila Water Company Inc., (MWCI) and Maynilad Water System (MWSI).

The petition, filed on Tuesday, June 25, by WaterWatch Coalition Inc. and Alyansa ng Mamamayang Naghihirap (Almana) Inc., et.al asked the SC for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) requiring respondents, Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS), MWCI and MWSI to “maintain and observe the status quo prevailing before the commencement of the 2013 Rate Rebasing Exercises.”

Rodolfo Javellana Jr., President of Water For All Refund Movement said Manila Water and Maynilad should “refund” instead of “increase” the price of water which has been “a burden to water consumers, especially the ones around Metro Manila.”

Javallana added that MWCI and MWSI should also stop their “overbilling or advance collection” intended for “their projects” because most of them did not even push through.  

“Halimbawa po, ung Laiban Dam Project na kinolekta po sa atin since 2008. That is almost P1 billion a year. Ngayon po ay 2013 na so ito po ay umaabot na sa P6 billion pero hawak po ito ng Maynilad, hawak po ito ng Manila Water. So dapat po wala pong increases na magawa kasi hindi naman po ito natuloy,” Javallana said.

(For example the Laiban Dam Project, which was collected from us [water consumers] since 2008. That is P1 billion a year. It’s alreadt 2013, that’s around P6 billion but it is still with Maynilad and Manila Water. So it’s just proper that they should not increase [water prices] because this project did not push through.)

Javallana said that Maynilad Water collected P170 million since 2004 but “there is no Wawa Dam or Laiban Dam.” He further asked why do Maynilad and Manila Water still have the money yet still want to implement a 5-year increase.

“Ang kelangan po natin ay annual audit, taun-taong annual audit ng Maynilad at Manila Water. Mismo po ang MWSS at aming chincahallenge na ilabas ang mga audited documents na ito but until now, natapos na po ang mga public consultations, pero wala po silang nilalabas na numbers,” Javallana said.

(What we need is an annual audit, a year audit of Maynilad and Manila Water. We are challenging MWSS to show the audited documents because until now, public consultations have been over, but we there are no numbers.)

Javallana disclosed that Maynilad plans to increase water rates by P8.52 per cubic meter while Manila Water would charge P5.83 per cubic meter in their the proposed hiked water rates which will be implemented next month.

Incomplete utilities  

The petitioners said MWCI and MWSI admitted that “in the 15 years that they have operated Metro Manila’s water and sewerage system public utilities, they [MWCI and MWSI] have not only failed to stop leaks, they have failed to implement the sewerage system that they were meant to complete.”

Despite this, the petitioners said, MWCI and MWSI still “seek to raise the [water] fees” and impose the public “to pay for these utilities in advance, including costs attributable to mothballed projects and future contingent projects.”

The petitioners added that there is “an urgent need” to address this condition for “the wellness and health of the people as a national community.”

In general, only 45% (national average) of our population get potable water coverage served by Water Districts or LGUs throughout the country, they said adding that another 55% more need access to clean, potable and affordable water. – Rappler.com