E STAR

news TUESDAY I

Manila Water sued

By RHODINA VILLANUEVA the voluntarv commitment of mine how households, busi- are guilty and then Penalize
Manila Watdr to susPend the nesses and government of- them because thev can use
fices were severelv affected that asainst us and sue us. I
Militant grouPS Bagong collection of water bills cover-
ing the service interruPtion bv the water crisisl A sPecial am eiiing them due Process
Alyansang Makabayan (BaY- and"the opportunitY for them
an) and Bayan Muna Yester- period and ensure Public Par- aisessment will have to be
ticipation in any proceedings. conducted," Reyes said, add- to explain;hy theyihould not
day asked the Metropolitan be penalized," Ty said.
Waterworks and Sewerage The petitioners asked the ing that with the filing of the
MWSS to order Manila Water co"molaint, consumers could the MWSS Regulatory Of-
Sysiem (MWSS) to Penalize
to srant.rebales to all consum- no# expect a response and fice has asked Manila Water to
Manila Water Co. for the wa-
ter shortage problem being .ri *hich would cover the action from the MWSS. explain and gave the comPanY
fiv-e davs or until Saturday to
experienced in the east zone cost foi the emergency Pur- The MWSS insisted due
of Metro Manila. chase of water containers and process on ihe penalties to .""noni.
Le imoosed on Manila Water hope the public under-
In a 21-page complaint, drums and other costs incurred 'I
Bayan secretary general Re- during.the period of service aJAr r litant groups filed the stands that we carmot iust im-
complaints against the AYala- oose administrative fines. This
nato Reyes and Bayan Muna inteffuption.
party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate They also urged the MWSS led firm. isbeyond the Regulatory Office
The MWSS Regulatory Of- since we have limited authoritY.
said Manila Water should be to order Manila Water to waive
fice sai.d it would still study We are not lile the other regula-
penalized for violating the the P8d14 mirrimuni charge for
all customelaccounts thai ex- the petition filed by Bayan and torv offices that can fine or iszue
concession agreement,
Reyes and Zarate were ac- perienced service interruPtion Bavan Muna. s.,6poe.,a9" Ty
i'I explained to them that "aid.
The MWSS-Regulatory Of-
companied by residents of and consumed 10 cubic meters
we will te studying it and see fice had a meeting with Manila
Mandaluyong and Quezon or less per month.
City in filing the complaint Reyes said they n ould call what we can do. We have to Water to discuss comPensa-
before MWSS. for public participation in the review it as we are bound bY tion for affected consumers
The complainants said the determination of penalties to the concession agreement and and the possibility of forgoing
water company violated its ob- be imposed on Manila Water. what we can actua$ do is very bill colltiction for the time be-
ligation to provide continuous He said thev would ask the limited," MWSS chief regula- ins. - With Louise Maureen
water supply to consulners. MWSS to hold public hearings tor Patrick Ty told iournalists Simeon, Edu Punay, Paolo
They said the MWSS-Reg- in every affected city. vesterday. Romero, Helen Flores, Romi-
"This is necessary to deter-
' "I cannot just say that they na Cabrera, Delon Porcalla
ulatory Office should act on

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