The Makati City government on Sunday joined other local government units in airing “strong objection” to the proposed privatization of the Angat Hydroelectric Plant (AHEP), saying that if it is pursued, water supply in Metro Manila and nearby provinces will be at “great risk.”

In City Resolution 2009-162, the Makati City Council stressed that allowing the privatization of the power plant will limit the distribution of water supply as it would be subject to higher rates at the discretion of its private owner.

“The effect of the privatization of the AHEP on the provision of water supply to the residents of Metro Manila will be at high risk. Such privatization will increase an added cost that will become an added burden to the growing population of the metropolis in this time of crisis,” reads the resolution authored by councilors Jejomar Binay Jr., Elias Tolentino, Israel Cruzado, Armando Padilla, and Salvador Pangilinan.

The Makati City government, however, did not issue an opinion on the proposal to the turnover of operation, management and ownership of AHEP to the government-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System,unlike the province of Rizal and the cities of Manila, Quezon, Parañaque and Muntinlupa that strongly supported it.

Currently owned and operated by the National Power Corporation, the AHEP is due for bidding following the provisions of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) law. Aside from generating electricity for the Luzon grid, the Angat Dam is also the major source of domestic and industrial water requirements for residents of Metro Manila as it provides irrigation to about 31,000 hectares of land in 20 municipalities and towns in Pampanga and Bulacan.