Go says water contracts not pro-people

Manila Water has yet to comply with its contractual obligation to provide sewerage and wastewater treatment facilities, according to Sen. Go. #waterconcessions #baddeals

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has lamented the unfair and unjust provisions in the Metro Manila water supply service contracts in a privilege speech at the Senate regular session on Monday, 9 December.

“These contracts are not pro-people and are clearly meant to bleed money from the Filipino people,” the senator said in his speech referring to the concession agreements with Maynilad and Manila Water.

Reacting to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s order for the Philippine government to pay Manila Water, one of the water concessionaires, P7.39 billion compensation the losses it incurred from the government’s blocking of its water rate increases in the past, Go said, “Wala na ngang binabayarang Corporate Income Tax ang mga concessionaires na ito dahil pinapasa na sa mga consumers, pagbabayarin pa nila ngayon ang taongbayan at ang gobyerno? Bumaba na nga ang konsumo ng tubig ng publiko, patuloy pa rin ang pag-taas nila ng presyo,”

Last year, the government was also ordered to pay Maynilad P3.4 billion by the same arbitral tribunal in Singapore.

“I strongly believe that such a decision is not only disadvantageous to the Filipino people, it is also wrong,” Go remarked, adding that other provisions in the agreements are “unfair and unjust to the Filipino people.”

“Saan naman kayo nakakita ng kumpanya na hindi pa man naisasagawa ang mismong septic tank desludging nito, nangongolekta na sila agad ng ‘environmental charge’ sa kanilang mga consumers para rito. Ano ito: pay now, service never?” Go said.

Go also alleged that Manila Water “fixers” have continuously opposed several water projects that would improve water systems.

“Why? So they could build their own water provider and raise prices anytime?,” the senator asked.

“Furthermore, Manila Water has yet to comply with its contractual obligation to provide for sewerage and wastewater treatment facilities in Metro Manila, which clearly constitutes a breach of the concession agreement,” he added.

The senator said that “business without conscience is just greed” and urged the two water companies to give back to the Filipino community.

“Inuulit ko po: Ang pagnenegosyo na walang konsensya at puso ay walang pinagkaiba sa kasakiman,” Go said.

“Alam ko naman na malalaking kumpanya na kayo. Marami na rin kayong naging kontribusyon sa Pilipinas. Malaki na rin ang kinita ninyo mula sa mga Pilipino. Panahon naman ngayon para ibalik ninyo sa taumbayan ang mga nai-ambag nila sa inyong negosyo. Palitan naman ninyo ng mas magandang serbisyo. Tulungan naman po ninyo ang naghihirap nating mga kababayan,” he said.

Meanwhile, Go questioned those who furnished and negotiated the contracts.

“Sinu-sino ba ang mga abogado at opisyal na nakaupo nang pinapa-bid at ginagawa pa ang mga kontratang ito? Bakit pinalusot ninyo at hinayaan na magkaganito? Bukod sa hindi makabayan, hindi pa makatao ang mga kontrata. Wala ba kayong mga puso?”

Proposing a way forward, the senator urged the renegotiation and rework of the agreements “to eliminate or neutralize those provisions which are unduly disadvantageous to the government and align both governmental and private interests to one common goal: public interest.”

He also urged the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the government agency that is in charge of water privatization in the country, to “explore the possibility of terminating the extension of the concessionaire agreement.”

As for the Department of Justice, the Department of Finance and the Office of the Solicitor General, the senator urged them “to ensure that the government protects the interest of the Filipino people.”

“Hindi natin kailangan ng mga kumpanyang pinagkakakitaan lang ang ating mamamayan,” said Go. “Protektahan natin ang karapatan at kapakanan ng ating bayan at ng ating mga kababayan.”

The Senate Committees on Public Services, on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, Ways and Means, and Finance are set to hold a public hearing on the water issue as well as related proposed legislative measures at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 11 December.