Muntinlupa Mayor Biazon hails water supply ruling
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon expressed gratitude to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) for imposing another penalty on a water concessionaire due to its failure to deliver continuous supply to customers in March.
MWSS-RO Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty announced on April 20 that his office found Maynilad “to have breached its service obligation to ensure the availability of an uninterrupted twenty-four (24)-hour water supply at a minimum pressure of seven (7) pounds per square inch (psi) to 165,518 connected customers within the Putatan Water Treatment Plant and Poblacion Water Treatment Plant Supply Zones, particularly in parts of Las Piñas City, Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City, Imus City, and Bacoor City.”
The regulatory office imposed a penalty of P54.28 million against Maynilad, which will be implemented in the form of rebates of P327.96 per affected water service connection that will be reflected in the May bill of customers.
Last month, MWSS-RO imposed a financial penalty of P42.56 million against Maynilad for water service interruptions in February this year.
“We thank the MWSS Regulatory Office headed by Chief Regulator Patrick Ty for recognizing the failure of Maynilad to meet its service obligation of providing 24/7 water supply service to Muntinlupa City and other areas,” said Biazon.
He added, “Although the hardship experienced by Muntinlupeños cannot be reversed or alleviated by the Fifty Four Million Two Hundred Eighty Three Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Nine Pesos and 29/100 fine that Maynilad will pay, it is enough to motivate the water concessionnaire to work harder to provide water to their subscribers continuously as stipulated in their franchise.”
Biazon said the government should look into Maynilad’s claim that the water quality from Laguna Lake is affecting its water production.
Maynilad draws raw water from Laguna Lake and processes it through its three water treatment plants in Muntinlupa: two in Barangay Putatan and another in Barangay Poblacion.
“However, it is hoped that this recognition of Maynilad's failure will also serve as a basis for government to further look into the reason given by the water concessionnaire that the quality of water in Laguna de Bai is affecting the processing of water distributed to its customers,” the mayor said.
He added, “Being a premiere source of domestic water, concerned agencies should take action to determine if the quality of water in the lake is such that it is really the cause of the difficulties of processing it for domestic consumption and look for ways to address that concern.”
Biazon held a meeting with Maynilad’s top executives on March 18 to address the water service interruptions, which have affected Muntinlupa residents.