In another management shake-up, former Police Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco has regained the position as Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator.
In a text message, retired Lt. General Emmanual Salamat confirmed to Manila Bulletin that he is no longer the MWSS administrator and that former Police Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco has regained the position. Velasco now serves as concurrent MWSS chairman and OIC administrator.
The agency went through a management shake-up in 2019 after the Ayala-led and MWSS concessionaire Manila Water Company Inc. caught itself in a supply mess that resulted in millions of its customers having low to no water supply for several weeks.
This prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to ask MWSS to release water for Angat Dam that is good for 150 days to address the issue, to which Velasco responded that the President may have been misinformed about the situation.
This, since the existing infrastructure of Angat, which supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs, wouldn’t allow what Duterte wanted to happen.
At the time, Manila Water ended up being penalized with billions worth of fines and investment obligations, and Velasco's term as MWSS administrator expired.
Instead of re-appointing him, Duterte recommended him to preside over the MWSS Board of Directors.
Velasco was then replaced by Salamat, who has served as the MWSS administrator from the time since Duterte ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to come up with a new CA between MWSS and its concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services Inc.
In November last year, Salamat even told Business Bulletin that he hopes the DOJ will come up with amended CAs soon as this will help MWSS better manage Metro Manila’s water sources.
Salamat now serves as a director at Clark Development Corporation (CDC).
His oath-taking at CDC took place on February 11, just days after Duterte offered the MWSS Administrator post to the outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay.
“Sir, after tonight, you might want, you might opt to take the MWSS vacated by Gen. Salamat or you might also choose to be with your home ground, the DND . It’s your choice,” Duterte said.