By Madelaine B. Miraflor
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’ (MWSS) Regulatory Office (RO) is expected to submit next week to the MWSS Board its decision whether Maynilad Water Services, Inc. should be penalized for implementing days of service interruption in some parts of its concession area.
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To recall, MWSS-RO has issued a 'Notice of Service Obligation Failure' to Maynilad for failing to meet its service obligation, as indicated under the Concession Agreement. The company was given five days to explain why it shouldn't be penalized.
MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said in a text message that Maynilad already submitted an explanation, which is now being reviewed by his office.
“I’m targeting to submit our findings to the Board of Trustees on their next Board meeting, which is June 13,” Ty said.
Ty said that on April 30, MWSS-RO already issued a letter to Maynilad to call their attention on the large number of complaints it saw regarding water service interruptions and low water pressure in large portions of the West Concession zone, specifically in the consumers living in the south.
But, the company didn’t reply to such letter, prompting the MWSS-RO to issue the 'Notice of Service Obligation Failure.’
“It is for this reason that we have given Maynilad five days upon receipt of the said notice to issue an explanation as to why they should not be penalized under Article 10.4 of the concession agreement. If found liable, we will recommend to the MWSS Board of Trustees that fines and penalties should be imposed to Maynilad,” Ty said.
Under Article 10.4 of the concession agreement, Maynilad should be able to provide uninterrupted water supply to its customers 24/7.
To meet its service obligation in the south, Maynilad taps water in Laguna Lake. It began implementing service interruption to 290,000 households in the south during the first week of May after finding out that there’s “unusual algae proliferation” in Laguna Lake.
The proliferation of algae, according to the company, was due to the warmer temperature brought by El Niño.