Manila Water’s Dela Cruz out, Almendras in
Credit to Author: JORDEENE B. LAGARE| Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2019 16:18:25 +0000
MANILA Water Co. Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Ferdinand dela Cruz is leaving the Ayala-led East Zone concessionaire for good after more than two years on the job, and a former Aquino administration official is replacing him.
In a disclosure on Friday, the listed water utility said dela Cruz tendered his resignation as its director, president, CEO and chief sustainability officer, as well as a member of its executive committee, due to “personal reasons.”
His resignation will take effect on August 31.
In a text message, dela Cruz also said he was retiring from Manila Water’s parent company and would take a breather before planning his next career move.
I’m “[c]onfirming that I have resigned as CEO of Manila Water effective August 31 and have opted to retire from Ayala Corp. now that our services are relatively stable, a new water resources roadmap is in place and a demand management plan has been initiated,” he said.
“Will take a break first before charting my next journey. Thank you for your prayers and support all this time,” the Manila Water chief added.
Jose Rene Gregory Almendras will replace dela Cruz. His term will begin on September 1.
Dela Cruz joined Manila Water in 2011 as its East Zone Business Operations and Corporate Strategic Affairs group director.
Before becoming president, dela Cruz was the chief operating officer for Manila Water Operations (Manila Concession), and president of both Manila Water Total Solutions Corp. and Manila Water Foundation.
As for Almendras, this won’t be the first time he will take the helm at Manila Water. He was the company’s president and COO before joining the government in 2010.
He served as Foreign Affairs secretary, Cabinet secretary and Energy secretary in the administration of then-president Benigno Aquino 3rd.
Dela Cruz’s resignation came after Geodino Carpio left Manila Water as its COO in April to avail himself of early retirement.
During their tenure, dela Cruz and Carpio tackled the supply crunch that first struck the East Zone concession area in March, affecting some 1.2 million households in Metro Manila and Rizal province.
This prompted dela Cruz, as well as Manila Water Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala and Vice Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, to apologize for the service interruptions.
In April, Manila Water offered a one-time bill relief to all its customers in order to alleviate the inconvenience caused by the supply crunch. Customers most severely affected by it were not billed for the entire consumption.
The following month, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office waived the basic charge, equivalent to the first 10 cubic meters consumed in a month, for all Manila Water customers. The most affected ones received an additional rebate of P2,197.94 each.
The agency took the rebate from the P1.13-billion penalty imposed by the MWSS Board of Trustees to the water service provider for violating their concession agreement mandating them to provide nonstop supply to all its customers.