Duterte to make announcement on water on 6 January

Duterte still wants to know from the lawyers who drafted the contract why they allowed the onerous provisions. #watercontracts

President Duterte said he will not allow that nothing will happen in the case.

Malacañang on Thursday said that President Rodrigo Duterte is set to make an important announcement regarding the issue on water on 6 January 2020.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, made the remark following a press briefing at the Palace.

However, Panelo could not give a hint on what the announcement will be, if it will touch on the contracts of the water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water, or if it is a major policy shift.

“He said he will make an important announcement of January 6,” Panelo said.

“Whatever – whatever, regarding the water issue,” he added.

At the same time, Panelo said that during a recent conversation with President Rodrigo Duterte in one of the events he attended in Malacanang this week, he mentioned that he still intends to have a meeting with the executives and those who had something to do with the contracts particularly private lawyers or whoever who were involved during that time.

“Last night, I think he repeated that he still wants to talk with those who are involved – the lawyers of the government, the private lawyers. He said, ‘I still want to hear why they allowed this kind of treason against the interest of the Filipino people,” Panelo said.

When asked if he intends to meet with the executives of Maynilad and Manila Water, Panelo said “With the people involved, all the people involved.”

“Wala siyang sinabing he wants. Basta sinabi niya, ‘I want to know the reason why they allowed this kind of provision,” he added.

Panelo said just like in his previous statement, the President will not allow that nothing will happen in the case.

“Aba eh, sabi niya hindi siya papayag na walang mangyari sa kaso na ito,” he said.

“Parang ang pagkasabi niya, ‘I do not (know) whether I will survive this. But I will not allow this to happen’ – parang iyon ang sabi niya. I think what he meant is, he will not step out of the presidency without resolving this issue – iyon ang ibig niyang sabihin,” Panelo said.

Panelo, however, said that he doesn’t know if the meeting with the company officials and state lawyers involved in the water concession will happen before January 6.

“Hindi ko alam. That I do not know,” he said..

“(But) I think you can be assured that the stand of the President remains unchanged – kung ano ang mga sinabi niya noon, iyon pa rin,” he added.

Previously, the President lashed at Ayala-led Manila Water and the Manny Pangilinan-owned Maynilad for collecting services they never rendered to millions of their customers in the capital region.

No less than the President ordered the review of the contracts following the massive water shortage that hit Metro Manila last April.

The 25-year contracts with Manila Water and Maynilad provided the private consortia will supply water, manage the distribution system, and improve and expand the east zone concession area.

The original 25-year agreement expires 2022 but it was extended during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2009 to a full term that ends 2037.

In an address in Malacañang, Duterte warned the two firms of expropriation if their explanation regarding the onerous agreements are not satisfactory.

“If you fail to satisfactorily explain, I will expropriate everything. You can file cases against me, anyway it will only be two years remaining for me,” he said in a previous speech.

Manila Water’s franchise area spans Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Makati and parts of Quezon City and Manila. It also services Antipolo City and the Rizal towns of Angono, Baras, Binagonan, Cainta, Cardona, Jala-Jala, Morong, Pililla, Rodriquez, Tanay, Taytay and San Mateo.

Maynilad’s assigned areas are Manila (except San Andres), Pasay, Parañaque, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Valenzuela and parts of Makati and Quezon City, including the municipalities of Navotas and Malabon. Its franchise area also covers Cavite City, and its municipalities of Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said upon their review of the concessions agreements, they found a dozen provisions that were deemed onerous or disadvantageous to the government.

Guevarra said that the DoJ review showed several provisions of the concession agreements between MWSS and Manila Water and Maynilad were disadvantageous to the government.

The DoJ chief said most notable among the unfair stipulations were the prohibition against government interference in rate-setting and the provision on indemnity for possible losses in the event of such government interference.