Monday, August 8, 2022
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns Back Channel by Alejandro Del Rosario

Atienza’s war on water firms

Alejandro Del RosariobyAlejandro Del Rosario
October 14, 2019, 12:50 am
in Back Channel by Alejandro Del Rosario
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
72
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

"Corporate greed exemplified, he says."

 

 

Like a man consumed by his own mission to wage war against corporate greed, Buhay Party List Rep. Lito Atienza is relentless in his campaign to make the water company concessionaires comply with the Clean Water Act. This, after one major newspaper banner headlined his case against concessionaire Manila Water while the other dailies also ran the story on their front pages.

Atienza is aghast that instead of complying with the Supreme Court order to implement the clean sewage component in their contract as concessionaires, Manila Water is now threatening consumers with higher rates.

“This is the height of arrogance if not downright insensitivity,” fumed Atienza, suggesting that the high court cite Manila Water in contempt and double its P1.8-billion fine for attempting to pass on their fine to consumers.

ADVERTISEMENT

“To increase its rates by 780 percent is corporate greed exemplified,” said Atienza. Neglect to separate toxic and chemical waste from water sewage is harming the environment as he pointed out the fishkill in Las Pinas and Paranaque.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources officials who inspected the dead fish washed ashore said the cause was not dynamite fishing but plain and pure pollution..

“Manila Bay is now one big cesspool,” said Atienza, adding that no amount of cleanup will turn the tide around and restore it to its former pristine condition.

Atienza said Manila Water has the funds to connect pipes to a water treatment facility. It did not do this. And yet the Ayalas who operate Manila Water have the funds for their other business ventures like condominiums and shopping malls. If operating a concessionaire and distributing water to thousands of households is not profitable, then they should get out of it, Atienza said, urging the government to cancel the water concessionaires’ contracts and take over their operation. He said that water a natural resource should never be privatized and given to big business whose sole priority is profit.

The former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo vowed to pursue his case against Manila Water when Congress resumes its session in November. He found an ally in Senator Sherwin Gatchalian who is now espousing the cause for a water treatment facility.

Atienza also said Manila Water has been collecting money from consumers and business establishments for wastewater treatment for the past 22 years aside from the regular fees for water consumption. Manila Water had enough time to construct a waste water treatment facility as stipulated in its concessionaire contract—but did not. Why?

So, where did that water treatment money go? Probably to other Ayala projects with a faster return on investment. We hope not, because that would be to the detriment of its actual purpose for a wastewater treatment facility, which is for the good of communities nationwide. What is happening now is that both Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay have become big receptacles for toxic waste and other garbage that result in fishkill and other diseases that take their toll on the people. Is it any wonder that polio is back after an absence of three decades, with dengue and the African Swine Fever adding to the people’s problems?

Indeed, one business company’s neglect is the whole country’s misery. Thankfully, we have legislators like Lito Atienza looking after our welfare. May his and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s tribe increase.

Tags: Clean Water ActManila WaterRep. Lito AtienzaSupreme Court
ADVERTISEMENT
Alejandro Del Rosario

Alejandro Del Rosario

Related Posts

Water: Too big a problem

byAlejandro Del Rosario
December 6, 2019, 12:50 am
0
132
Water: Too big a problem

"This negligence might soon be in for a sea change."     “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to...

Read more

Redemption

byAlejandro Del Rosario
December 4, 2019, 1:00 am
0
132
Redemption

"For now, Cayetano will get a temporary relief from any inquiry so as not to distract Filipino athletes from focusing on their...

Read more

Trump’s options

byAlejandro Del Rosario
November 29, 2019, 12:50 am
0
136
Trump’s options

"He can do any of these three things."     First and foremost I would like to state that I...

Read more

Glitches in the Games

byAlejandro Del Rosario
November 27, 2019, 12:40 am
0
131
Glitches in the Games

"A major foul-up, indeed."     These are more than “glitches” in the 30th Southeast Asian Games being hosted by...

Read more

Cayetano’s P50-million cauldron

byAlejandro Del Rosario
November 22, 2019, 1:00 am
0
135
Cayetano’s P50-million cauldron

"This is money that could have been spent to build more classrooms or develop sports."   Senators are questioning the...

Read more

Good news for patients in need

byAlejandro Del Rosario
November 20, 2019, 12:50 am
0
131
Good news for patients in need

"Pagcor started accepting walk-in applicants for medical assistance this week."   The Philippine Gaming Amusement Corp. will resume accepting applications...

Read more

Stories you may like

  • Zubiri new Senate President, vows to uphold chamber’s independence

    Marcos sees stronger PH-India relations

    5677 shares
    Share 2271 Tweet 1419
  • Showbiz icon Cherie Gil dies at 59

    2591 shares
    Share 1036 Tweet 648
  • Getting into character: How the cast of ‘Maid in Malacañang’ prepared for their roles

    2670 shares
    Share 1068 Tweet 668
  • Replevin and its common law origins

    1246 shares
    Share 498 Tweet 312
  • Fuel rollback next week, power rate cut in August

    1128 shares
    Share 451 Tweet 282

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Kingwhale 6 eases out Army in big PVL debut
  • PH standouts join Basketball Without Borders
  • Kyrgios whips Nishioka for 1st ATP title in 3 years
  • MILO energizes kids’ summer with Barangay Liga
  • Pilipinas Shell bags highest possible rating for internal audit
  • How ONE is making submission grappling next big thing
  • Filippo Berio: Exceptional Italian olive oil
  • Vera on Buchecha: His Jiu Jitsu is scary

Advertisement

Latest News

How ONE is making submission grappling next big thing

byManila Standard Sports
August 8, 2022, 9:20 pm
0
130
How ONE is making submission grappling next big thing

When ONE Championship says they’re The Home of Martial Arts, it’s not mere exaggeration. Chatri Sityodtong Aside from its dynamic...

Read more

Filippo Berio: Exceptional Italian olive oil

byManila Standard
August 8, 2022, 9:18 pm
0
132
Filippo Berio: Exceptional Italian olive oil

Since the mid-1800s, the Filippo Berio brand has become synonymous with Italian olive oil excellence, thanks to modern production facilities,...

Read more

Vera on Buchecha: His Jiu Jitsu is scary

byManila Standard Sports
August 8, 2022, 9:15 pm
0
130
Regaining ONE heavyweight world title a priority for Vera

Brandon Vera may have long relinquished his place as the ONE Heavyweight World Champion, but he’s still keeping a close...

Read more

PH hopes at Chess Olympiad dwindle

byManila Standard Sports
August 8, 2022, 9:10 pm
0
131
POC chief Tolentino sends assistance to athletes, coaches affected by Odette

The Philippines fell to Hungary in the women’s section and Georgia in the men’s side with the same 2.5-1.5 scores...

Read more

Malixi starts US Women’s Amateur golf campaign

byManila Standard Sports
August 8, 2022, 9:05 pm
0
130
POC chief Tolentino sends assistance to athletes, coaches affected by Odette

Rianne Malixi launches her drive in the US Women’s Amateur Monday, confident of her chances but wary of a stellar...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App