MANILA -- Senators on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) board to impose a PHP1.13 billion fine on Manila Water for its failure to comply with its contractual obligation to deliver 24-hour water supply to customers in Metro Manila and Rizal province.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III described the board's decision as a "good development" as it shows the regulator becoming strict with the concessionaire.
Pimentel, however, stressed that the penalty must be reimbursed to the customers of Manila Water.
"That is my call to MWSS. The penalty is for the benefit of the customers of Manila Water who suffered hardship and inconvenience," he said.
Senator Francis Pangilinan shared Pimentel's sentiment, saying the amount should benefit and go directly to the consumers who had been greatly inconvenienced by the water interruptions.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the imposition of the PHP1.13-billion fine is "reasonable" considering that the penalty must be "at least equal" to the damages felt by the consumers.
"So in my initial assessment, reasonable siya (it's reasonable) but I need to look into data quite carefully. For example, ilang consumer ba ang nawalan ng tubig, gaano katagal nawalan ng tubig, ano ba yung mga negosyo na nagre-rely sa tubig na napinsala o nagkaroon ng perwisyo (how many consumers were affected by the water shortage, how long did it last, what businesses heavily relying on water were affected and disrupted by the interruptions)," Gatchalian said.
Senator Joel Villanueva said while the penalty is a "welcome development", the regulatory body must keep a close watch on the performance of its concessionaires.
"It is not powerless. It must wield its regulatory function to keep concessionaires in line with service commitments," Villanueva said.
Villanueva said the MWSS board must also exercise foresight as a policy-setting body.
"The water crisis would not have occurred had our policymakers prepared ahead, and executed these accordingly," he said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said it is high time for the government to tighten its grip on public service utilities, as he pushed for the passage of the bill amending the Public Service Act.
"We should establish and update all these in the new Public Service Act," Sotto said.
Senator Grace Poe urged the MWSS to provide the public a copy of its computation in coming up with the PHP1.13-billion fine for the sake of transparency.
Poe also noted that Manila Water should still be "continuously sanctioned" as long as water interruptions continue.
"Klaro na obligasyon nila ang 24/7 availability of potable water na hindi nila naibibigay at kasalukuyang hindi naibibigay (Their obligation is clear that they should ensure 24/7 availability of potable water that they still fail to provide until now)," Poe said.
"Hindi naman yata tama na porke't magbabayad na ang Manila Water ay okay nang magpatuloy ang water interruptions (I don't think it's fair that the water interruptions would still persist just because Manila Water would already pay the fine)," Poe added. (PNA)
