By MB Online
Manila Water Co Inc. president and CEO Ferdinand dela Cruz on Monday said he was "accountable" for the water shortage crisis in the metro.
Manila Water Company, Inc. president and CEO Ferdinand Dela Cruz attends the House committee hearing on the Metro Manila water crisis at House of Representatives in Quezon City on March 18, 2019. (KEVIN TRISTAN ESPIRITU / MANILA BULLETIN)
"I am holding myself accountable for the sudden drop in our service level to your constituents whom we have consistently served over the past 21 years with 24 by 7 water availability and sufficient water pressure," Dela Cruz said in the House committee hearing on the Metro Manila water crisis
Dela Cruz also apologized to their customers for the weeks-long water supply shortage.
"Ipinarating ko bilang pangulo ng Manila Water ang pag hingi ng kapatawaran sa inyo mga constituents who are also our customers sa aming concession area,” he told the congressmen present in the hearing.
(As president of Manila Water, I am asking for forgiveness from your constituents who are also our customers in our concession area.)
The Manila Water president said he talked with some of their affected patrons, and understood their anger.
"Nauunawan ko po ang galit ng inyong constiuents sa amin at saming paglalahathala ng mga anunsyo ng water service interruption na hindi tumutugma sa aktwal nilang karanansa,” he said.
(I understand the anger of your constituents with us, and for the inconsistencies between the schedules of service interruption that we announced and what was actually being experienced on the ground.)
Dela Cruz told lawmakers that he will never forget March 6, 2019, which marked the start of water shortage in the metro.
He explained that on that day, La Mesa Dam’s reserve breached critical level, which prevented Manila Water from getting 150 million liters per day, leading to several water service interruptions.