Fate of MWSS officials known by April 22
Published Apr 17, 2019 05:43 pm
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Will President Duterte fire officials of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) over last month’s water crisis?
This will be known on April 22 when the President hands down his decision.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (SCREENSHOT / RTVM / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
President Duterte initially made a self-imposed April 15 deadline to make a decision, but decided to postpone it for a week to give himself time for reflection.
“Magre-reflect muna siya (The President will reflect first). He needs more time for reflection. It will give him a chance to study everything. Yung April 15, April 22 na po. (The April 15 deadline is now April 22),” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing in Malate, Manila.
“He probably needs time to talk to some people or read some documents. You have to understand ang daming sources of information ng pangulo (the President has a lot of sources of information and) all of that has to be validated, all of that to be vetted, all of that has to pass through some process of validation,” he added.
When asked if MWSS is on a difficult position, Nograles said it would be best to just wait for the President to make the announcement after the Holy Week.
" President's prerogative. Hindi pa tayo (As of now, we're not) sure. it's up to the President," he said.
MWSS is under Duterte's scrutiny due to the water crisis experienced in some parts of Metro Manila last month. On Tuesday night, Duterte threatened to replace all MWSS officials if the water supply continues during El Niño.
"It comes with regularity...'yang El Niño na 'yan. Ilang taon kayo nandiyan and you do not prepare for it? And when it comes, walang tubig 'yung mga tao (El Niño comes regularly. You are there for so many years and you do not prepare for it? And when it comes, the people have no water)," Duterte said.
According to the President, a lot of Filipino engineers abroad are waiting to have opportunities here in the country, noting that many of them are smarter, brighter, and more capable than the current officials of the MWSS.
"Maraming Pilipino dito. Maraming engineers dito na galing sa labas.. .lahat marunong hindi lang nakikilala (There are many Filipino engineers here and outside the country. They are all learned but are not known)," Duterte said.
"There are millions of Filipinos waiting outside...brighter than you. Kaya lang, hindi lang kilala kasi hindi mga politiko (We do not know them because they are not politicians). I will not hesitate to replace you all," he added.
Duterte also told the water concessionaires operated by the elites to fix first their water supply problem and end the people's agony.
“‘Yung mga taga-Maynila...wala nang ligo, wala nang hilamos, wala na lahat. Sinabi ko sa inyo eh. Ayan (The people in Manila have not bathed or washed their face. I am telling you). I’m not trying to blame you but that’s what you get for getting people ‘yung mga elitista-elitista (who belong to the elite),” he said.
“Why do you have to cause problem for the people when there are things that you can do at once...ibig kong sabihin (What I mean is), you derail everything in life,” he added.
“Kaya ako, pagka ganun, wala akong pasensya (I really have no patience for things like this). Either you can hack it or not. If you don’t, sorry,” he continued.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (SCREENSHOT / RTVM / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
President Duterte initially made a self-imposed April 15 deadline to make a decision, but decided to postpone it for a week to give himself time for reflection.
“Magre-reflect muna siya (The President will reflect first). He needs more time for reflection. It will give him a chance to study everything. Yung April 15, April 22 na po. (The April 15 deadline is now April 22),” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing in Malate, Manila.
“He probably needs time to talk to some people or read some documents. You have to understand ang daming sources of information ng pangulo (the President has a lot of sources of information and) all of that has to be validated, all of that to be vetted, all of that has to pass through some process of validation,” he added.
When asked if MWSS is on a difficult position, Nograles said it would be best to just wait for the President to make the announcement after the Holy Week.
" President's prerogative. Hindi pa tayo (As of now, we're not) sure. it's up to the President," he said.
MWSS is under Duterte's scrutiny due to the water crisis experienced in some parts of Metro Manila last month. On Tuesday night, Duterte threatened to replace all MWSS officials if the water supply continues during El Niño.
"It comes with regularity...'yang El Niño na 'yan. Ilang taon kayo nandiyan and you do not prepare for it? And when it comes, walang tubig 'yung mga tao (El Niño comes regularly. You are there for so many years and you do not prepare for it? And when it comes, the people have no water)," Duterte said.
According to the President, a lot of Filipino engineers abroad are waiting to have opportunities here in the country, noting that many of them are smarter, brighter, and more capable than the current officials of the MWSS.
"Maraming Pilipino dito. Maraming engineers dito na galing sa labas.. .lahat marunong hindi lang nakikilala (There are many Filipino engineers here and outside the country. They are all learned but are not known)," Duterte said.
"There are millions of Filipinos waiting outside...brighter than you. Kaya lang, hindi lang kilala kasi hindi mga politiko (We do not know them because they are not politicians). I will not hesitate to replace you all," he added.
Duterte also told the water concessionaires operated by the elites to fix first their water supply problem and end the people's agony.
“‘Yung mga taga-Maynila...wala nang ligo, wala nang hilamos, wala na lahat. Sinabi ko sa inyo eh. Ayan (The people in Manila have not bathed or washed their face. I am telling you). I’m not trying to blame you but that’s what you get for getting people ‘yung mga elitista-elitista (who belong to the elite),” he said.
“Why do you have to cause problem for the people when there are things that you can do at once...ibig kong sabihin (What I mean is), you derail everything in life,” he added.
“Kaya ako, pagka ganun, wala akong pasensya (I really have no patience for things like this). Either you can hack it or not. If you don’t, sorry,” he continued.