Manila Water to appeal fines imposed by Supreme Court

The Manila Water Company Inc. intends to make ab appeal before Supreme Court (SC) to reconsider a decision to impose fines on the water concessionaire for not complying with the Clean Water Act.

In a regulatory filing submitted by Darwin Mendoza, Manila Water said it is set to file its appeal before the SC by next month.

“We would like to affirm that the company will exercise all its legal options, including the filing of a Motion for Reconsideration by October 2, 2019,” the disclosure read.

The SC has fined Manila Water and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) P921.464 million, covering the period of violating the law starting on May 7, 2009 until August 6, 2019— when the high court promulgated its decision.

Manila Water, along with the MWSS and Maynilad Water Services Inc. were found to have violated Section 8 of the Philippine Clean Water Act.

Section 8 requires the connection of existing sewage lines in all subdivisions, condominiums, commercial centers and other establishments including households, to an available sewerage system.

Regulator MWSS also imposed a P1-billion fine on Manila Water in connection with the water shortage experienced in Metro Manila and the Rizal province earlier this year.

The P1.134 billion in total penalties include P534 million as fines and P600 million to finance the development of a new water source for the company.

Ferdinand dela Cruz, Manila Water president and CEO, earlier apologized to customers for water supply issues, as the La Mesa Reserve breached its critical level of 69 meters which kept the company from meeting the demand of 150 million liters per day from the reservoir.

The Zobel de Ayala brothers, Manila Water chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala and vice chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, also took responsibility for the water interruptions.

Manila Water supplies the East Zone which encompasses 23 cities and municipalities spanning 1,400-square kilometers.

The concession area includes Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Marikina, most parts of Quezon City, portions of Manila, and 14 towns in the Rizal province. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News