Thread by @tonyocruz

Why is there a water shortage in Metro Manila? (A thread)

Officially: Manila Water blames the low water level at La Mesa Dam, and increased usage and growing number of customers (!)

Read more here: news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/12/19/…

As of March 8, 8:00 AM, MWSS reports the following status of dams:

ANGAT DAM
Elevation: 201.73 meters
Spilling Level: 217 meters

IPO DAM
Elevation: 101.00 meters
Spilling Level: 101.02 meters

LA MESA DAM
Elevation: 69.10 meters
Spilling Level: 80.15 meter

Up to 90 percent of Metro Manila water comes from Angat Dam.

Maynilad gets most its water from Angat. Unfortunately, Manila Water depends mostly on La Mesa Dam.

Maynilad and Manila Water are the private concessionaires who, together with government, promised better service when they signed the concession agreements that made Metro Manila the first major metropolis to privatize its water service.

Maynilad is Metro Pacific and DMCI. Marubeni (Japan) has a stake in the Metro Pacific-DMCI partnership. Benpres (Lopez) and Suez Lyonnaise de Eaux used to own Maynilad until 2005.

Manila Water is a joint venture of Ayala Corporation United Utilities (UK), and Mitsubishi (Japan)

Angat and Ipo can still supply Metro Manila's water needs, even if La Mesa reaches critical levels.

We may be suffering from an artificial water shortage.

The MWSS Board under Duterte approved in 2017 the P18.724-B New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project (NCWS-KDP) as new water source for Metro Manila.

Can you guess what country is funding this project? And whose contractors won the bidding for it?

Duterte's MWSS Board approved Limited Competitive Bidding for
three Chinese Contractors endorsed by China's Ministry of Commerce through
the DOF... and the bilateral arrangement between Duterte gov't and China.

The project was changed from PPP to one funded by China loans.

Do we have low or critical levels at Angat Dam? No.

How important is the Angat Dam to Metro Manila?

MWSS explains:

MWSS, Maynilad and Manila should explain the terrible water problem. They all have full control of Metro Manila's water services. What more do they want? A rate hike?

Manila Water raised rates eight-fold from 1997-2012. Maynilad rates up five-fold 1997-2012.

"Manila Water recorded a 7% increase in 2017 core net income to P6.5 billion, driven largely by the strong sales of its Metro Manila water concession, the expansion of other local operations and higher supervision fees..."

bworldonline.com/manila-water-n…

For Maynilad: Core income was P6.130 billion compared to P5.575 billion in the first nine months of 2018.

bloomberg.com/research/stock…

Is the water shortage an artificial one aimed at conditioning the minds of affected Metro Manila residents to support the Duterte-China deal for the controversial Kaliwa Dam project?

Haribon has asked the government to stop the project:

gmanetwork.com/news/news/regi…

The bishop of Infanta, supported by other bishops across PH, has also spoken against the Duterte-China Kaliwa Dam project.

cbcponline.net/no-to-kaliwa-d…

The signing of the China loan for Kaliwa Dam was a marquee event in Xi Jinping's state visit.

gmanetwork.com/news/money/eco…

Metro Manila’s water services have been privatized since 1997. Both Maynilad and Manila Water have foreign partners. Both have been enjoying billions in superprofits.

Angat is main source (98%), not La Mesa.

China is entering thru Kaliwa Dam funded by China ODA.

After 22 years in business and enjoying billions in profits thru generous concession agreements, there is no acceptable alibi from either Manila Water or Maynilad over this mess of a water shortage.

Or is this a fake shortage hatched by the Duterte regime to favor Kaliwa Dam?

Manila Water has the financial resources needed to solve the water pressure problems. (Maynilad has also offered access to its water sources.)

Wag sana gamitin ang DIUMANO ay water shortage at water pressure issue to justify yet another water rate hike!

Bantayan din natin itong Kaliwa Dam sa Quezon. Binenta ito ni Duterte sa China: funded by expensive China loans, and to be built by China contractors. Sila din ba ang kokontrol ng tubig natin?

To read more about Metro Manila water sources and also the China-funded Kaliwa Dam project, visit the MWSS website.

Naguumapaw din ang net income reports sa Manila Water and Maynilad Water websites.

Is El Niño to blame for the “water shortage”?

@dost_pagasa says NO

interaksyon.com/politics-issue…

Do we have enough water supply from Angat Dam for the whole of summer?

NWRB says YES

news.mb.com.ph/2019/03/12/wat…

Manila Water has practically admitted that delays in its own projects and its reliance on La Mesa Dam (a backup, emergency source) are behind what appears to be an artificial water shortage

news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/12/19/…

Whether funded thru PPP (as proposed in previous regime) or sold to China (under Duterte), the Kaliwa Dam is deplorable and unacceptable. We should be able to find a better way to manage future needs. Kaliwa Dam is greedy and irresponsible, period.

ph.news.yahoo.com/china-duterte-…

AS EXPECTED: DOF Secretary Dominguez takes advantage of Manila Water’s questionable “water shortage” to push Duterte’s onerous China-funded Kaliwa Dam project