WatGr GonGessionaires
eatn [illions in Uolit,il
amiil crisis -- AtiGnra.ffi
A VETERAN congress-
fiarr on Sunday said the
Manila Watei Co. and
Maynilid Water Servic-
es Inc. registeted a com-
bined P138 billion net
profits from 2006 to 2019
despite their supposed
problems in
meetins
their obligations to del
liver round-the-clock
running water to theii 14
million customeE and to
establish sewerage sys-
temB,
"Based on our scrutiny
of publicly available finari-
cial filings, we've gathered
that Manila Water Co, and
Malrrilad Water Services
Inc. m.ked in an agglegate
of P138 billion in net o-rof-
its from 2005 to june
2019," said Buhav
Hayaang Yumabong (Bti-
hay) Party-lisi Rep. Litio
Atienza, noting that Metro
lvfanila's two water con-
cessionaires are defini tely
not having any difficultiei
producing profits for their
stockholders.
"Both fums also re-
warded their shareholderc
a combined P49 billion in
cash dividends over the
same perio4" said Atien-
za, fol'ner three-term
mayor of Marila.
"It has become abun-
dantlv dear thev've been
maliirg a lot o'f monev.
This is-why they have rio
exclrs€ wtEtsoever for fail-
ing to meet their obliqa-
tions, including theh oEIi-
Sation to put up adeq uate
sewerage netwolks and
wastewate! tleahnent fa-
cilities," Atienza said.
Atierua also disouted
the tlteat made b'y the
water firmg that rates
could shoot up by 780
percent, oI by as much
P26.70 per cubic meter, if
they-their
are forced to connect
all customers to a
sewage collectior! treat-
mentand di5posal system,
as mandated bv Sdtioii I
of the Clean l4/ater Act
"There's absolutelv no
need for them to jac( up
wa ter r?tes. They've clear-
Iy been makin! a lot of
money over the years, aJrd
some ofthose profib came
ftom the 20 percent envi-
ronmental charge and 30
percent sewer charge
they've been collecting
flom customers." AtiPn-
za said.
"Thev should have 6:l-
lv inves'ted the revenrrp
6om these clnrges tobuild
sewerage networks and
wastewate! heabrent f a-
cilities, but thev clearlv
chose to do someihing el6
with the money," he add- Until thevfullv comoi v
ed- with the Cl<ian Water Aci,
"[n fact, over the years, the Supreme Court had
they've invoked theineed
said that Manila Water,'
to provide sewerage net- Malnilad and the MWSS
works and wastawater
will have to continue to
treatment facilities to bor- pay a P32e102 daily fine
row cheap funding from
that escalates by 10 per-
abroad tor' green' proiects. cent in two years, plus le-
We don't know wirat they gal interest bf six irercent
did with the money,T'
Per annum.
Atienza said. In asking the SC to re-
The Supreme Court
consider its order, the wa-
(SC) in August upheld a ter firms had wamed that
2009 D?arknent ofEnvi- water rates could hit the
ronment and Natural Re-
roof, should thev be com-
sources (DENR) order De-
pelled to pa y the fine untit
nalizing the tivo *iter they complete their sewer-
suppliels and the Metro- age projects.
politan Waterwolks Sew- ? Ageq
erageSystemMWSS)with
P1.84 billion in combined
fines for violating Section
8 of the Clean Water Act.
Atienza hirnselJissued
the 2009 order when he
was DENR head.