Colmenares blames MWSS for water supply problem; chief regulator defends agency

Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares has blamed the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the water supply problem being experienced in some parts of the country, saying the agency failed to prepare for it.

MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty, meanwhile, was quick to defend the agency, saying despite its flaws, the MWSS is still doing a "better job."

On The Mangahas Interviews, Colmenares faulted the MWSS for allegedly not being proactive and instead pinning the blame for the water supply problem on outside factors like the El Niño phenomenon and the decreasing water level in dams.

"Instead na maghanda sila, instead na gumastos sila para sagutin ito long before it happens, ayaw gumastos para solusyunan. Ang funny lang, sinisisi nila ‘yung iba maliban sa sarili nila,” Colmenares said.

(Instead of preparing for it, instead of spending money to address the problem when it happens, they don't want to spend for a solution. The funny thing is, they blame everyone except themselves.)

Colmenares, who previously filed a petition asking the court to direct water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water to refund corporate income taxes imposed on customers, said he doesn't buy the notion that the water problem is caused by the increase in demand.

“Pangalawang sinasabi nila, tumataas kasi ang demand ng tubig, ang populasyon lumalaki. Lahat naman ng bansa ay expected na tataas ang demand kasi lumalaki naman talaga ang populasyon. So bakit tayo ang hindi nakapaghanda sa pagtaas?” he said.

(They're also saying that the water demand is increasing because of growing population. The demand in other countries is also increasing because of growing population, so why aren't we prepared for it?)

According to Colmenares, a former party-list lawmaker, this all boils down to giving more focus on profits instead of service.

“Para sa akin, iyon ang problema ng privatization kasi nauuna muna ang tubo kaysa sa dapat pagkagastusan para gawin iyong obligasyon nila.” he said.

(For me, that's the problem with privatization, because profit comes first than obligation.)

MWSS 'doing a better job'

But according to Ty, annual customer satisfaction survey shows that majority of customers are still satisfied MWSS' service.

“Alam po natin may kaunting pagkukulang pa tayo [We are aware of our shortcomings] and may [there is] room for improvement. We are making sure that we are addressing these issues and these concerns right now. We are not perfect but I believe we are on the right path and we are doing a better job,” Ty told The Mangahas Interviews.

Currently, Ty said the MWSS is conducting investigations on government institutions that are racking up P10-17 million in water bills due to combined water meters.

He also said the huge water bills could be due to leaks caused by decrepit pipes.

“Kasi marami d’yan non-revenue water, marami d’yan leaks, especially for old buildings na natatapon na ‘yung tubig. Nagle-leak ‘yan dahil mga old pipes na ‘yan na kailangan nilang i-repair, ” Ty said.

“Because of this kaya nga natin ine-encourage na lagyan ng meter per building, pag minsan ng per floor, para mahanap kung saan po ‘yung mga leaks. Para maayos po ito kasi nasasayang ‘yung tubig,” he added.

(Most of that is non-revenue water or leaks, especially in old building. There are leaks because of old pipes that needed repair. This is why we encourage putting meters in every building or every floor so we'd know where the leaks are and fix them.)

Ty also said they are encouraging government agencies to “check their system.” —KBK, GMA Integrated News