MWSS head says will accept if Duterte replaces him over water shortage

March 20, 2019

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage (MWSS) Administrator Reynaldo Velasco on Wednesday said he will accept if President Rodrigo Duterte decides to remove him from his post.

“Whatever Spokesperson (Salvador) Panelo said that is what really happened,” Velasco said in a radio interview.

The MWSS administrator said he was supposed to present updates to Duterte but the president ordered them to submit a comprehensive report on the situation on April 10.

“(The president said) just submit a report by April 10 on what did you do about (the situation), what are your plans. What is important here is do not commit this mistake again because if not (I will remove you). That’s what he said last night,” said Velasco.

Velasco said there will be no problem if Duterte does that.

“He said if you cannot do that, I’m sorry you will be removed,” said Velasco, a former deputy director general of the Philippine National Police.

Velasco said Duterte did not say he will cancel the contract of the water concessionaires.

“Well he did not say it directly but even to the point it looks like that,” he said.

“It’s the prerogative of the president… it’s a presidential action so the president can do what he wants,” Velasco said.

Velasco said he understands Duterte does not want to see people suffering because of the water shortage.

“We will comply to the best that we can. I already texted Executive Secretary (Salvador) Medialdea because he is the one present there, ‘rest assured the president we can address within the MWSS level’,” he said.

On the responsibilities in terms of  problems with the water concessionaires, the MWSS administrator said it’s the mandate of the regulatory office.

“I’m not the regulator. I hope the public will understand that the MWSS has two branches… we have regulator. The regulator is the one that supervise the operation, tariff and all that. So I’m not the one (responsible) because I’m not the regulator. The regulator should be held accountable,” Velasco explained.

“It’s not my job to impose penalty, supervise (operation). It’s the job of the regulatory office,” he added.

Velasco said as of Tuesday, 95 percent service were covered and he assured the public water supply will reach 99 percent by the end of the month.

“We request the public, everyone to take action now and not wait for the water level in Angat Dam to go down,” he said.

Velasco added they can cope with problems until June 30, which was the deadline given by Duterte to solve water supply problem.

But they are hoping for rains to raise the water level at Angat Dam which serves almost 96 percent of households in Metro Manila.

As of 6 am Wednesday, Angat’s water level is at 197. 50 meters from its normal level of 210 meters. La Mesa Dam's water level stayed at 68.63 meters compared to its normal level of 80.15 meters. Ella Dionisio/DMS