M'INII.
A PHITIPPINES I TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2OI9
Exec willing to resign over shortoge
By Elmer ll. Manuel
The highest official of Manila Watrer
yesterday t0ld members of the House
of Representatives that he is taking flow t0, it became impossible for Manila
full responsibility for the water crisis Water t0 maintain its water supply.o
gril.)ping Metro Manila.
Manila Water president and chief serve the peak demand ar stfficient
executive officer Ferdinand de la Cruz
also expressed readiness to resign
over the water shortage now affecting
hundreds of thousands of people.
Concessionaire blames drieil up
La Mesa Dan eveo 11 11s [nlk
of supply for NCR comes from
Anget Dam.
De la Cruz said his priorif
remains
the restoration of full water service
in the affected areas of the National
Capilal Region (NCR) and the provinces
on its fringes.
"I'm taking fu accountability for
what has happened and wherever that
leads me to, I am taking accountabitiw
for that action," he said.
*I arn prepared to resign for failing
the customers, but my focus right now
is to restore the service even if it's a
slow probess," he added.
The official blamed the dried up La
Mesa Dam for Manila Water's failure to
meet increased demand, although the
bulk of the water supply for the NCR
and the rest of Luzon comes ftom Angat
Dam, according to experts.
"When La Mesa Dam's water level
went below the lowest point it could
. an institution but to find out what the
"Without this, we cannot fully
pressure,' he added._ r \
De la Cruz explained that Manila
Water's operations in the capital's east
zone will return t0 notnal by the end
of summer. The supply deflcit will be
halved by April and will be reduced
further to 16 percent by Ma$ he said.
Manila Water has consistently
served its customers for 21 years with
"24/7 water avallability and sufficient
water pressure,' he explained, as he
appealed.for understanding.
"When Manila Water started serving
the public, we promised an end to
falling in line for water rations. But
last week, we failed you,' he said ofthe
shortage that started last 6 March - "a
date I will not forget as $esident of
Manila Water.'
"I know the suffering of your
constituents, rich or poor, especially
those living in Highway Hills and
Baiangka in Mandaluyong,' said Dela
Cruz,
House Speaker Gloria
Macapagal-Aroyo said thd pesentaiion
on the water crisis has provided
\ PAw_8
"
lanmakers the necessary information
to amend water regulations,
Arroyo added the waler crisis
hearing was not int€nded to blame
government can do to move forward
regarding the problem.
*Well, Manila
Water admitted that
they were delayed in the Cardona plant,
That's what (Mqjority floor Leader)
lled Castro was saying.. It's a good
thing that... Manila Water admitted
their shortcomings. th€ heaxing is not
to find out who's to blame but rather
how to move forward,' she added,
Last Friday, Arroyo led the
inspection of the cross-border pipe
in West Avenue, Quezon City to look
into possible concession-sharing to -
provide an immediate solution to.the
water problem.
Maynilad Water pr€sident
Ramon Fernandez said that the
cross-border pipe was the fastest
way to transfer water from the
West to the East Zone, He added
that this will require minor pipe-
laying and result in the flow of
10 million liters of water per day
to the East Zone,
The said water crisis in the oast
Zone was also said to have been caused
by the increased consumer demand
from customers which Manila Water.
cannot deliver.