PRESIDENT Arroyo asked the public particularly the
business groups, in persuading the two biggest water concessionaires
in the country to fast track and properly treat and dispose its water
waste products, claiming that only five percent of Metro Manila is
being covered by their the sewerage systems.
Arroyo, speaking before the General Assembly of the
Federation of Philippine Industries in Makati City, said the Manila
Water Company Inc. and the Maynilad Water Service Inc. are both
charging its consumers for sewerage coverage which they should spend
properly.
"Sewerage is the responsibility of the two
concessionaires. So I guess if you really want to be competitive, FPI
should also help us to be very persuasive with the two water
concessionaires to fast-track their sewerage system for which they are
charging us after all," she said.
The President blamed the poor sewerage system for
the continued pollution of Pasig River which she said should be
rehabilitated and cleaned. She said the Pasig River is one of the most
important waters that have to be cleaned up. Its rehabilitation is
among her administration’s priority projects.
The Metropolitan Waterways and Sewerage System Service, in its
website, said its sewerage system constructed in 1904 covers a service
area of only 1,800 hectares with a system capacity intended to service
only 220,000 people. During the privatization of MWSS, the two
concessionaires agreed to allocate 80 percent on sanitation and
sewerage. – Jocelyn Montemayor
