Bawiin ang prankisa ng Maynilad at Manila Water — Deputy speaker

NANAWAGAN si Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez sa liderato ng Kamara de Representan­tes na bawiin ang prang­kisa ng dalawang dambuhalang kumpanya na may konsesyon sa tubig sa Metro Manila.

Ayon kay Rodriguez madami sa mga kongresista ang nawalan ng pagkakataon na busisiin ang 25-taong prangkisa ng dalawang kumpanya.

“As a deputy speaker, I am ex-officio member of all committees. I never received an invitation to attend hearings in the committee on franchises on these two franchise bills,” ani Rodriguez

Aniya nabiho ang Committee on Legislative Franchise na inbitahan ang lahat ng miyembro nito at ito ay isang pag­labag sa pagdinig nito.

“…violates the rules of the House that hearings should be made public and that all members of the chamber and all those opposed to the measures should be invited to attend and ask questions.”

Hindi, umano, main­tin­dihan ni Rodriguez kung bakit minadali ang pag apruba nito.

 “People will suspect that we are taking advantage of the pandemic. We could have waited for the lockdowns in Metro Manila and other areas, including Cagayan de Oro City, to scrutinize these bills at length, since they involve tens of billions the millions of consumers will pay,” giit ng kongresista.

Aniya isa siya sa mga hindi naimbita sa pag­dinig sa prangkisa kung saan may mga itatanong sana siya sa mga isyu patungkol sa  “interest of the government and the people affected by the water concessions.”

“I would have asked responsible officials and the concessionaires why their earlier contracts were allegedly onerous against the government and consumers as emphasized by President Duterte himself? What were the onerous features and who drafted those contracts,” anang kongresista ng Cagayan de Oro.

Gusto aniyang malaman ang mga bagong probisyon sa kontrata.

“How do we know that all the one-sided provisions have been removed and the new contracts are now fair to the public, the government and the concessionaires if we do not subject them to scrutiny?” tanong ni Rodriguez .

“Is that part of the new contracts? What is the timeline for compliance, what are the penalties for non-compliance? We do not know because we were not given the opportunity to ask questions and cast an informed vote,” dagdag pa niya.

Ayon kay Rodriguez isa pang isyu na gusto niyan maliwanagan ay tungkol sa systems loss na ipinapasa sa mga konsumedores.

“Why should we pay for water or electricity that is pilfered or stolen, that is lost due to leaks, negligence, inefficiency, and other causes beyond the control of the consumer? Like electricity, is wasted water subjected to the 12-percent value added tax?” ang tanong ng kongresista.

(GERRY BALDO)