Solon seeks regular budget for MWSS
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:24:28 +0000
House Minority Leader Danilo E. Suarez yesterday batted for a regular budget for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, citing that the MWSS’ operational expenses are being paid by the water concessionaires, which he described as “unethical.”
Suarez made the pitch during the House Committee on Public Accounts hearing yesterday on the water shortage in some parts of Metro Manila and Rizal.
“Now we had been suggesting that MWSS’ budget should come from the General Appropriations Act. They perform their jobs as a regular office of the government,” Suarez, chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, said.
He said the MWSS’ operations and expenditures are being paid by Maynilad and Manila Water.
“So the regulator is being paid by the regulatees. We’re not saying nagkakaroon ng bias dito sa arrangement na ito. Pero para mawala na ‘yung sinasabi natin na maybe MWSS is soft on their stance, dahil ‘yung kanilang nire-regulate ‘yun ang nagpapasweldo sa kanila,” Suarez said.
“It is unethical kung sino ang ang nagreregulate sya ang nagbibigay ng sahod,” he said.
Maynilad chief operating officer Randolph Estrellado and Manila Water president and chief executive officer Ferdinand dela Cruz confirmed to the Suarez panel that they pay yearly concession fees.
“Nagbabayad ho kami ng concession fees sa MWSS. Sa pagkakaintindi ko ho parte nun pambayad sa utang at parte is ‘yung cost of operations ng MWSS so dun ho nanggaling lahat ng gastusin nila,” Estrellado said.
He told the panel that they pay each concessionaire P400 million yearly.
Dela Cruz said due to inflation, the concession fees now stand at P522 million for each concessionaire.
“So P1 billion na, the public deserves better services with that kind of revenue,” Suarez said.
During the hearing, Suarez also sought the development of new water sources “to finally end the water crisis,” citing the Sumag River diversion project and Kanan River bulk water supply.
He said the Kanan River bulk water supply project located above the Kaliwa Dam is seen as a possible replacement for the Laiban Dam as a water source for Metro Manila.
He noted that Energy World has presented the project which shall encompass utilization of hydro power and wind power, while providing sufficient bulk water to Metro Manila, nearby municipalities, and irrigation.
“This project is from the public-private partnership with the Quezon province and will entail no cost to the government,” he said.
Suarez said he preferred local private partnerships than the China-funded Kaliwa dam.
“Now, we have a private sector who is saying we can do the same with even better services and features. Hindi gagastos ang gobyerno, kikita pa ang gobyerno,” he said.
“Mas mabuti na dito na lang sa Pilipinas mangutang, instead of tapping foreign banks,” he pointed out. (Charissa L. Artienza)