Gov’t urged to keep Water service in private hands

The Makati Business Club (MBC) is still confident that Manila’s water system should remain privatized, despite the backlash felt by Ayala-led Manila Water Co. Inc.

In a statement, MBC said it was backing efforts that the authorities were taking to get to the bottomline of the water shortage, to know how to avoid a repeat and to determine accountability and responsibility.

But despite the backlash against Manila Water over the past weeks, MBC said that the water service was still better off left in the private sector’s hands.

“Our members suffered with the rest of the public, from the shortage of water in our homes and our businesses. But service is indisputably better than before privatization,” the statement read.

MBC said it was confident in public-private partnerships in general “and, in particular, the privatization of Manila’s water system, which is considered a model around the world.”

MBC said that the most important among the solutions being considered was to prioritize the development of and streamline the approval process for new water sources, but also to include more efficient usage.

Metro Manila’s water supply has been entrusted to two of the biggest conglomerates in the country— Manila Water for the east zone and Metro Pacific’s Maynilad Water Services Inc. for the west.

The problem, which has affected millions of consumers both rich and poor, is only found in areas under Manila Water.

Maynilad did not experience any water shortage since it has other sources, such as its plant in Muntinlupa City that filters water from Laguna Lake.