Appearing before a joint briefing at the House of Representatives, Jose Rene Almendras, president and CEO of the Ayala-led Manila Water, and Ramoncito Fernandez, president and CEO of Maynila, also said their companies will indefinitely defer the 780 percent water rates increase in January 2020.
The chief executive also rejected the PCA rulings even as he vowed to file plunder charges against officials of the water concessionaires and the government officials involved in the approval of the allegedly onerous contracts. “We abide with what President Duterte wants which is to review the concession agreement,” Almendras said.
However, upon questioning by Reps. Robert Ace Barbers and Lito Atienza , the two water company executives clarified that an increase in water rates in the future will depend on the state-run regulator, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System . “Kung sinabi ng MWSS na wala na kaming gagawin, wala na kaming karapatan para humingi ng increase,” the Manila Water official explained. .
Quezon Rep. David Suarez decried the extension of the CA’s life, pointing out that it was done 13 years before the original CAs were to expire.
Salamat Digong...👏👏👏
For now! How about tomorrow? How about after 2022? What is people's assurance that this kind of onerous agreement would not happen again?