Press Release
August 31, 2021

Poe to lead hearing on water franchises on Sept. 1

The Senate committee on public services led by Sen. Grace Poe is set to tackle the franchise applications of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and the Manila Water Co. Inc. in a virtual hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 10:30 a.m.

"It is the goal of our committee to ensure that the franchise applicants will indeed put the welfare of our people first," said Poe.

The senator earlier said the bills will go through a fine-tooth comb and challenged the applicants not only to provide access to safe and clean water, but also root out the inconvenience of constant water interruptions.

In its 2013 and 2016 studies, the Asian Development Bank has rated the country's water security at the bottom quarter out of 48 Asia-Pacific countries, with poor governance as the main cause, not water scarcity.

Currently, 15 million Filipinos still do not have access to water while more than 55 people die every day from water-related causes.

"Now more than ever, access to safe and affordable water is basic and crucial in our fight to douse the risks and perils of the unseen virus," Poe said.

To be discussed are: House Bill (HB) 9422 or "An Act granting Maynilad Water Services Inc. a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain a water supply and distribution system and sewerage and sanitation services in the west zone service area of Metro Manila and province of Cavite"; and HB 9423 or "An Act granting Manila Water Co. Inc. a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain the waterworks and sewerage system in the east zone service area of Metro Manila and province of Rizal."

Among the invited guests who have confirmed attendance to the hearing are Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty, Deputy Administrator for Technical Regulation Evelyn Agustin, Deputy Administrator for Administration and Legal Affairs Claudine Orocio-Isorena, Acting Deputy Administrator for Financial Regulation Christopher Chuegan, Legal Affairs Department Manager Crescenciano Minas Jr., Head Technical Assistant Ivan Bernard Samson; Department of Justice State Counsel Melvin Suarez; Philippine Competition Commission's Jared Rivera and Ramon Jeriel Sawit.

Attendees from Manila Water Co. Inc. are Chief Regulatory Officer Donato Almeda, Director Rene Almendras, Chief Finance Officer Ma. Cecilia Cruzabra, East Zone Chief Operating Officer Abelardo Basilio, Corporate Secretary Silverio Benny Tan, Enterprise Legal Services and Regulatory Support Head Ia Laurienne Ramiro-Castro, and Enterprise Regulatory and Stakeholder Engagement Group Head Jo Kristine Revil and External Counsel Ninez Maningat.

Representatives from Maynilad Water Services Inc. are President and Chief Executive Officer Ramoncito Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer Randolph Estrellado, Chief Finance Officer Ricardo Delos Reyes, Regulatory Affairs Head Marianina Guilbert, Legal Affairs Head Mercedita Ona-Saldua, Corporate Secretary Alex Fider, and Assistant Corporate Secretary Kristina Caro Gangan.

Stakeholders led by Laban Konsyumer Inc. President Victorio Dimagiba are also expected to attend the hearing.

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[FILIPINO TRANSLATION]

Pagdinig sa water franchises, pangungunahan ni Poe sa Sept. 1

Itinakda ng Senate committee on public services sa pamumuno ni Sen. Grace Poe ang pagtalakay sa aplikasyon ng prangkisa ng Maynilad Water Services Inc. at Manila Water Co. Inc. sa isang birtuwal na pagdinig sa Miyerkules, Sept. 1, 10:30 ng umaga.

"Hangarin ng ating komite na matiyak na uunahin ng mga aplikante ng prangkisa ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan," ayon kay Poe.

Naunang inihayag ng senador na masinsing paghihimay ang dadaanan ng mga prangkisa na hindi lamang magbibigay ng ligtas at malinis na tubig, kundi aalisin din ang kaabalahang dulot ng mga water interruption.

Ayon sa isinigawang pag-aaral ng Asian Development Bank noong 2013 at 2016, nasa huling kwarter ang seguridad sa tubig ng Pilipinas mula sa 48 na bansa sa Asya-Pasipiko, kung saan mahinang pamamahala ang pangunahing dahilan, hindi ang kakapusan ng tubig.

Sa kasalukuyan, 15 milyong Pilipino ang walang napagkukunan ng tubig habang mahigit 55 katao ang namamatay kada araw sanhi ng iba't ibang problema sa tubig.

"Ang pagkakaroon ng ligtas at abot-kayang tubig ay krusyal sa ating laban sa hindi nakikitang virus," ayon kay Poe.

Kabilang sa tatalakayin ang: House Bill (HB) 9422 or "An Act granting Maynilad Water Services Inc. a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain a water supply and distribution system and sewerage and sanitation services in the west zone service area of Metro Manila and province of Cavite"; at HB 9423 or "An Act granting Manila Water Co. Inc. a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain the waterworks and sewerage system in the east zone service area of Metro Manila and province of Rizal."

Kabilang sa dadalo sa panig ng pamahalaan sina Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty, Deputy Administrator for Technical Regulation Evelyn Agustin, Deputy Administrator for Administration and Legal Affairs Claudine Orocio-Isorena, Acting Deputy Administrator for Financial Regulation Christopher Chuegan, Legal Affairs Department Manager Crescenciano Minas Jr., Head Technical Assistant Ivan Bernard Samson; Department of Justice State Counsel Melvin Suarez; Philippine Competition Commission's Jared Rivera at Ramon Jeriel Sawit.

Dadalo mula sa Manila Water Co. Inc. sina Chief Regulatory Officer Donato Almeda, Director Rene Almendras, Chief Finance Officer Ma. Cecilia Cruzabra, East Zone Chief Operating Officer Abelardo Basilio, Corporate Secretary Silverio Benny Tan, Enterprise Legal Services and Regulatory Support Head Ia Laurienne Ramiro-Castro, Enterprise Regulatory and Stakeholder Engagement Group Head Jo Kristine Revil at External Counsel Ninez Maningat.

Darating din ang kinatawan mula sa Maynilad Water Services Inc. na sina President and Chief Executive Officer Ramoncito Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer Randolph Estrellado, Chief Finance Officer Ricardo Delos Reyes, Regulatory Affairs Head Marianina Guilbert, Legal Affairs Head Mercedita Ona-Saldua, Corporate Secretary Alex Fider, at Assistant Corporate Secretary Kristina Caro Gangan.

Inaasahang dadalo din sa pagdinig ang iba't ibang grupo sa pangunguna ni Laban Konsyumer Inc. President Victorio Dimagiba.

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