East zone Manila Water Co. Inc. on Friday denied allegation it was not helping to address pollution at Manila Bay.
At a roundtable discussion in Quezon City, Jeric Sevilla, Corporate Strategic Affairs head, said representatives of the water firm were not given the chance to speak well about its efforts to help in the rehabilitation effort to save Manila Bay during a Senate inquiry.
Members of the House of Representatives, including former Manila mayor and Buhay Rep. Joselito Atienza, hit Maynilad Water Services Inc. and the Ayala-led Manila Water for failure to deliver sewage treatment facilities that were supposed to be built and operated a long time ago.
According to Sevilla, the company has “consistently intensified its campaign toward proper wastewater management” in its coverage area through its used water master plan.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources kicked off the P47-billion cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay on Jan. 27.
Secretary Roy Cimatu called on the cooperation and participation of the stakeholders, including the two water concessionaires of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.
Sevilla said Manila Water would invest P115 billion in capital expenditure for its used water master plan to ensure full sewerage service coverage by 2037.
He said they had invested P33 billion in wastewater infrastructure from 1997 to 2018.