Top officials of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) have reassured the public of adequate supply of potable water in the coming years amid reports that Metro Manila might experience water shortage in 2021 before the end of President Duterte’s term.

“There is no looming water shortage and we will always uphold the best interest of the people,” said MWSS chair Franklin Monteverde and administrator Reynaldo Velasco during the recent Water Challenge Forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

The two officials were reacting to a statement made by Manila Water chief operating officer Geodino Carpio that the non-approval of the Laguna East Bay water treatment project might result in water shortage by 2021.

“While we respect the opinion of Mr. Carpio, it is best for Manila Water to properly present its P15-billion Laguna East Bay project that can produce additional 250 million of liters of water per day (MLD) as part of the overall water security and sustainability program for the East Zone instead of making his personal analysis on the overall costing of the P12.2 billion Kaliwa Dam project that is expected to produce additional 650 MLD,” Velasco said.

In a recent meeting, Manila Water president and CEO Ferdinand M. de la Cruz and Carpio informed the MWSS chief that Manila Water fully supports the construction of the Kaliwa Dam and that the Laguna Lake East Bay project had been further reduced to P13.5 billion from P15 billion.

“We welcome any new water source projects such as as the Laguna Lake East Bay but the MWSS position is always to strike a balance between the overall cause and effect on any business development and the interest of the consuming public who will eventually shoulder the expected increase in water rates,” Velasco said.

This article was originally published in Philippine Daily Inquirer on September 1, 2018.