Poor service merits probe of Maynilad, Manila Water

We support calls to review the contracts that have been awarded to the water utilities Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. The probe should also cover their regulator, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). But we do not necessarily agree with Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go that the matter be referred to his former boss, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte. Not all of the nation’s problems should land on the President’s desk — at least not yet. For now, the neophyte lawmaker himself can champion the issue at the Senate. At times, the Senate seems to investigate trivial matters only for the sake of senators getting media exposure. But the water shortages of late and the water utilities themselves certainly merit public scrutiny.

Like Senator Go, many were apoplectic over the announcement of the rotational service interruption after the water level at Angat Dam fell below critical level. Earlier this year, households were also inconvenienced with service interruptions that were ineffectively advised to the public beforehand. Actually, those interruptions have become a recurring crisis, particularly during the summer. Ironically, the season that follows brings in typhoons and monsoon rains that trigger flooding and natural disasters.