Hundreds of contractors to dig up MM simultaneously to rush sewerage projects as ordered by SC
Hundreds of contractors will be needed by next year to dig up the whole of Metro Manila all at the same time to finish the sewerage projects of MWSS, Maynilad and Manila Water within five years as ordered by the Supreme Court.
“How realistic and practical would it be for hundreds of contractors, by next year, to dig up the whole of Metro Manila, all at the same time, to finish the sewerage projects of MWSS, Maynilad and Manila Water within five years as ordered by the Supreme Court?” asked advocacy group Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, at Kuryente (BK3).
In 2011, on a case to clean up Manila Bay, the SC gave MWSS and its concessionaires up to 2037 to finish their sewerage-related projects because the five-year timeline under the Clean Water Act was deemed not feasible given the failure of various government agencies to do the preliminary work, including looking for land and fixing right of way issues.
Last August 6 however, the same court, acting on another case, revived the five-year timeline and thus created this undue risk and potential burden for us all.
“This Supreme Court ruling would penalize consumers since it could increase water rates by as much as P16 per cubic meter. It is anti-consumer and all of us would be disadvantaged,” BK3 said.
“With all the simultaneous diggings needed will come even more horrendous traffic. Businesses will be affected, the economy would be stunted further, and the public unduly suffers. The P3.4 billion in daily losses due to traffic could possibly double,” it said.
The group clarified all these potential burdens can be avoided if only the Supreme Court would respect its own earlier decision to finish the sewerage projects up to 2037, and not within five years or 2022.
“This five-year ruling is lose-lose. If the SC just honors its own ruling in 2011, everybody wins and will be happy. And there will be no political backlash to speak of,” BK3 said. “It is best the High Court be more consistent and avoid conflicting rulings among its chambers. Let the wiser decision prevail– we believe the 2037 decision should stand,” it added.
“Since they say the law is based on common sense, there is certainly no sense in punishing the public with higher rates and worse traffic and gain nothing. Worse, it would be shooting ourselves in the foot,” BK3 said.
The two concessionaires have a budget of almost P600 billion to finish their sewerage projects by 2037. If the rush program is followed under last month’s decision, this amount would be spread out only until 2022 instead of over 18 years causing more burden for consumers.
Louie Montemar
BK3 Convenor +639294844558
https://www.facebook.com/bantaykonsyumer/