gabe ulanday,
Since March 6, 2019, a massive water rationing crisis has gripped most of Metro Manila. This meant days of low water pressure topped off with routine water disconnections.
In fear that this crisis will persist until August, many are demanding someone or something to blame. The Manila Water Company, Inc. and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) both maintain that the crisis is due to severe El Niño which is causing the water levels of La Mesa Dam, the Metro’s source of water, to reach a critically low level of 69 meters.
However, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, contradicted this. If it is indeed El Niño responsible for the dam’s critically low water levels, Angat Dam, which was at the time at normal levels, should also be suffering critically from the El Niño as well. However, Angat Dam is only now nearing critical levels after having its demand increased due to La Mesa Dam’s shortage.
What’s the real reason behind this shortage then? Marikina Representative Bayani Fernando, at a House hearing, pointed to logistical issues caused by poor management. He said Manila Water does not have pressure-regulated valves to regulate their water flow. Such valves could be used to more effectively and evenly distribute water even with a water shortage.
Another issue of incompetence is that as early as 2018, Manila Water predicted a water shortage by 2020. Why was nothing done to potentially alleviate, mitigate, or preempt this prediction?
So far, Manila Water has presented inaction, incompetence, and excuses. However, to their credit, Manila Water president and chief executive officer (CEO) Ferdinand dela Cruz publicly apologized and admitted personal guilt before the same House hearing.
President Rodrigo Duterte has presented Manila Water with his “shape up or ship out” ultimatum. He refuses to listen to Manila Water’s excuses and demanded that they immediately fix the crisis or else face contract termination. He is even considering purging MWSS officials if the situation persists.
The President ought to follow through with his warnings for the two companies are government contractors tasked to serve the people. Failure to do so is to go against their mandate to provide for and ensure the well-being of the Filipino.
Instead of finding effective solutions to the crisis, Manila Water and the MWSS are pointing fingers at each other and at God and El Niño. They would not even be in this situation if they prepared for this instead of sitting on their hands when they foresaw it in 2018. These points have shown that Manila Water and the MWSS are not fit to continue their roles as government contractors.
On July 28, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the human right to clean drinking water. This means that citizens should not be forming block-long queues to avail water from a fire hydrant. They should not have to clean themselves with alcohol-soaked rags after returning home from a hard day at work. They should not have to pay their hard-earned pesos waiting for a non-existent water service to be delivered to them.
The people are rightfully angry about their current situation for Manila Water and MWSS serve the people, at the leisure of the people. Not the other way around. //by Gabe Ulanday
Opinion: Where’s Our Water?
Photo credit: Ria Estilón
Since March 6, 2019, a massive water rationing crisis has gripped most of Metro Manila. This meant days of low water pressure topped off with routine water disconnections.
In fear that this crisis will persist until August, many are demanding someone or something to blame. The Manila Water Company, Inc. and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) both maintain that the crisis is due to severe El Niño which is causing the water levels of La Mesa Dam, the Metro’s source of water, to reach a critically low level of 69 meters.
However, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, contradicted this. If it is indeed El Niño responsible for the dam’s critically low water levels, Angat Dam, which was at the time at normal levels, should also be suffering critically from the El Niño as well. However, Angat Dam is only now nearing critical levels after having its demand increased due to La Mesa Dam’s shortage.
What’s the real reason behind this shortage then? Marikina Representative Bayani Fernando, at a House hearing, pointed to logistical issues caused by poor management. He said Manila Water does not have pressure-regulated valves to regulate their water flow. Such valves could be used to more effectively and evenly distribute water even with a water shortage.
Another issue of incompetence is that as early as 2018, Manila Water predicted a water shortage by 2020. Why was nothing done to potentially alleviate, mitigate, or preempt this prediction?
So far, Manila Water has presented inaction, incompetence, and excuses. However, to their credit, Manila Water president and chief executive officer (CEO) Ferdinand dela Cruz publicly apologized and admitted personal guilt before the same House hearing.
President Rodrigo Duterte has presented Manila Water with his “shape up or ship out” ultimatum. He refuses to listen to Manila Water’s excuses and demanded that they immediately fix the crisis or else face contract termination. He is even considering purging MWSS officials if the situation persists.
The President ought to follow through with his warnings for the two companies are government contractors tasked to serve the people. Failure to do so is to go against their mandate to provide for and ensure the well-being of the Filipino.
Instead of finding effective solutions to the crisis, Manila Water and the MWSS are pointing fingers at each other and at God and El Niño. They would not even be in this situation if they prepared for this instead of sitting on their hands when they foresaw it in 2018. These points have shown that Manila Water and the MWSS are not fit to continue their roles as government contractors.
On July 28, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the human right to clean drinking water. This means that citizens should not be forming block-long queues to avail water from a fire hydrant. They should not have to clean themselves with alcohol-soaked rags after returning home from a hard day at work. They should not have to pay their hard-earned pesos waiting for a non-existent water service to be delivered to them.
The people are rightfully angry about their current situation for Manila Water and MWSS serve the people, at the leisure of the people. Not the other way around. //by Gabe Ulanday
0 comments: