MWSS chief: ‘We will fix the problem’
Credit to Author: CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT| Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 16:38:36 +0000
METROPOLITAN Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Reynaldo Velasco on Wednesday said he would not resign for now, as he promised to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to resolve the water shortage in Metro Manila.
During a briefing in Malacañang, Velasco vowed to craft a 50-year comprehensive roadmap to help ensure water supply.
“Kakayanin natin ‘yan. If I cannot do it, I will resign immediately,” Velasco told reporters, a day after meeting the President.
“We are not worried about the water supply until 2037, which is the end of the concession agreement but we have to go beyond that because ang utos ng Presidente (the directive of the President), and even the Senate…gumawa ng masterplan diyan (is to make a master plan), so we will do the roadmap maybe up to 50 years,” he added.
Velasco admitted that no one in the MWSS board had offered to resign because the President did not ask for it during a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday night.
He said Duterte instead gave them time to fix the problem or lose their jobs.
“He said shape up or ship out. In other words, fix the problem first. If you cannot fix it, go. He has given us time to fix the problem, so I’m trying to address it so I will not be fired,” Velasco said.
The MWSS chief said he was willing to step down if Duterte asked for it, saying all presidential appointees served at the pleasure of the President.
“Anytime. I would like to remind you that all of us in the board are under the pleasure of the President. We are presidential appointees. Anytime he feels like we can’t do it, and others can take our place, that’s welcome,” Velasco said.
“If he asked for it last night, including the board, I would have volunteered, I would take responsibility and spare the board. But since he did not ask for it, I am still here,” he added.
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