(Eagle News)—The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System has imposed a sanction of more than P1 billion on Manila Water over the water shortage that grappled its customers in March.
MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco said in a radio interview of the P1.134 billion sanction, P534 million represents a fine, and P600 million the fund for a new water source.
Manila Water president and CEO Ferdinand dela Cruz said the company would comply with the MWSS decision, even as he noted that the firm was “not the root cause for the inadequacy of the raw water supply coming from Angat Dam which we are mandated to treat and distribute..”
“Manila Water, as agent and contractor of water services of MWSS, hold ourselves accountable for our inability to provide our consumers with the usual uninterrupted water service,“ he said.
The P1.134-billion sanction was apart from the company’s self-imposed penalty of P500 million.
President Rodrigo Duterte had threatened to fire MWSS officials over the shortage that affected Manila Water customers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
He also threatened to terminate the water concessionaire’s contract following the fiasco.
