STATEMENT OF SENATOR WIN GATCHALIAN ON THE THREAT OF MANILA WATER TO INCREASE RATES BY 780%

Increasing rates by 780% is unconscionable and downright a highway robbery. No business in the world earns 780% in profit! Government regulators should never allow this inhumane increase.

At bakit kailangang ipasa sa consumers ang multa? Sila ba ang nagkulang at hindi sumunod sa batas? Hindi ito tama at hindi ito fair. Ang publiko na nga ang nawalan ng tubig, ipapasa pa sa kanila ang mga penalties na dapat bayaran ng Manila Water dahil sa sariling kapalpakan nila.

Both Manila Water and Maynilad have been given ample time to comply with the Clean Water Act. The government should not let Manila Water threaten to hold the public hostage with exorbitant price increases just so it could blackmail the Supreme Court into reversing its decision.