House OKs Maynilad, Manila Water franchises

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the measures seeking to grant franchises to water concessionaires Manila Water Company, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. on third and final reading.

Voting 206-7-0, the chamber approved House Bill 9422 or "An Act Granting Maynilad Water Services, Inc. a Franchise To Establish, Operate, And Maintain A Water Supply And Distribution System And Sewerage and Sanitation Services In The West Zone Service Area of Metro Manila and Province of Cavite."

On the other hand, House Bill 9423, or "An Act Granting Manila Water Company, Inc. A Franchise To Establish, Operate and Maintain The Waterworks and Sewerage System In The East Zone Service Area of Metro Manila And Province of Rizal" obtained 206 affirmative votes and seven no votes.

Under both measures, Maynilad and Manila Water will be allowed to develop, finance, construct, install, maintain and operate, as its operations may require, water sources, including new raw water sources, including deep wells, dams, aqueducts, tunnels, treatment plants, reservoirs, pump stations, and facilities for transmission, conveyance and distribution of water including pipelines, machineries, and other waterworks for the purpose of supplying water in the franchise area, for domestic, commercial, industrial, and other purposes.

The franchises shall be for a term of 25 years unless revoked by Congress when the public interest so requires.

Railroaded?

Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas opposed the measures, claiming they were railroaded. She also expressed dissatisfaction over the services being given by the two water concessionaires.

"Ni hindi nabigyan ang mga miyembro ng Kapulungan na makapagtanong at makapagpalalim sa igagawad na bagong prangkisa [We weren't even given the chance to scrutinize the franchises]," Brosas said.

Brosas also said there is no guarantee that water tariff rates would be regulated under these proposed measures.

"The President has repeatedly chided the private concessionaires for their poor service and the supposed questionable provisions in the concession agreement. But here we are, approving the franchise for another 25 years for the same concessionaires without the slightest sense of inquiry into the matter," she said.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate, for his part, said the measures did not undergo thorough deliberations. He said the charges being imposed to consumers were not discussed and looked into during the discussions.

"Naalala ko po na sinabi sa Committee on Legislative Franchises na sa plenaryo na lang pag-debatehan ang mga prangesang ito. Ngunit pagdating sa plenaryo noong June 1, ay agaran din naman itong ipinasa," Zarate said.

(I remember it was told at the committee level that there would be a debate in the plenary regarding the franchises, but when they reached the plenary  they were quickly approved.) —KBK, GMA News