Amid warnings from water concessionaires of shortage of supply and their petition contesting a Supreme Court (SC) ruling slapping billions of penalties against them, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night lashed out at the companies for their failure to put up treatment plants despite continued collection of fees from customers.

In an address to the 45th Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel, the President lamented the fact that the Filipino people have been paying for water treatment fees, which has not been delivered by the water companies.

Mr. Duterte made the remarks without naming names, but he was apparently referring to Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc.

At the same time, the President urged business groups to help protect nature as he took a swipe at the water firms.

“So, let us not forget the environment. Like these… I am not sure what. I think these guys do not like me and I do not like them,” the President said.

“We’ve been paying, the Filipino people, Manila. We have been paying for water treatment fees, which has not been delivered by the water companies.

The Chief Executive added, “Up to now, there is no water treatment. The water in the canal, it passes through a nylon mosquito… but there is no water treatment and yet we are paying.”

This was not the first time that the Chief Executive lashed at the water companies for their failure to put up treatment facilities.

In an exclusive pre-State of the Nation Address interview with Daily Tribune, Mr. Duterte said the public can even sue both private firms for “plunder” since they have been collecting fees for services that they do not provide.

The President even threatened to terminate the concession agreement with the water companies for poor services.

In August, the SC slapped Maynilad, Manila Water and the government-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) with massive fines for their failure to comply with the Clean water Act.

The SC imposed a total of P921,464,184 in fines each against MWSS and Maynilad, which was the same fine imposed on Manila Water and also to MWSS.

They were also fined P322,102.00 per day for every day of noncompliance with the Clean Water Act, stemming from a case filed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The case stemmed from the failure of Maynilad and Manila Water to put up sewage lines and sewage treatment facilities despite charging millions of households for such service, and according to reports the fines piled up because the law imposes a daily fine for each infraction.

Both Maynilad and Manila Water have filed separate motions for reconsideration before the SC contesting its ruling even as they threatened to pass the penalties imposed against them to the customers.

In fact, both companies said that a 780 percent increase in their water rates is in the offing if the SC ruling is implemented.

The 74-year-old Chief Executive was able to grace the event at Manila Hotel after he was involved in a minor motorcycle accident at the compound of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in Malacañang, Wednesday night.

He was joined on stage by Ma. Sibal Limjoco, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Dr. William S. Co, chairman of the 45th PBC&E (WSC); and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez.

The President took the event as an opportunity to solicit the help of the business sector in the government’s fight against corruption.

“I need badly the cooperation of the business sector. I am telling you, if there is somebody, just a mere whisper about corruption, just let me know. I need your input to better serve my country and thereby fulfill what I promised to the people,” Mr. Duterte said.