House Asst. Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro on Thursday, August 5 is confident that Senator Grace Poe will scrutinize closely the proposed renewal of legislative franchises of two Metro Manila water concessionaires, saying that this is what the House of Representatives failed to do.
Castro aired the appeal to the Senate chairperson of the Committee on Public Service as she chided the House Committee on Legislative Franchises and the chamber’s leadership for railroading the passage of bills proposing 25-year renewal of the legislative franchises of the Maynilad Water Services Inc and the Manila Water Company.
Castro said what the Lower House did is unjustified if the welfare of water consumers in Metro Manila and nearby localities are to be considered and prioritized.
She also drew Poe’s attention to the allegedly unfair treatment of ABS-CBN broadcast network by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.
She explained that by comparing how the Lower House treated the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN and Maynilad, glaring biases of the Lower House will surface.
Maynilad used to be owned by the Lopezes.
It will be recalled that the legislative franchise panel rejected last year the franchise renewal applications of ABS-CBN. The move was widely suspected as motivated by President Rodrigo Duterte’s criticisms against the network.
Compared to the process of granting legislative franchise application of the ABS-CBN broadcast network, Maynilad’s franchise renewal had been guaranteed for approval right after the bill was filed, said Castro.
“Ikumpara natin ito sa ibang franchise bills: mas mahaba at mas mabigat ang pinagdaanan ng ABS-CBN sa buong proseso ng franchise nito kaysa sa buong proseso na niregalo sa mga oligarko ng Maynilad at Manila Water na namamayani sa bisness ng tubig (Compare this to other franchise bills: ABS CBN underwent longer and more difficult process for its franchise than the process granted to oligarchies of Maynnilad and Manila Water that have lorded it over in the business of water),” Castro stated in explaining her “no” vote during the third and final reading voting for the two legislative franchise measures.
“Their difference? ABS-CBN is NOT a friend of the administration,” stressed the opposition lawmaker.
“If Maynilad is still owned by the Lopez family, I don’t think it will get a franchise renewal,” said Castro.