Water Crisis Probe Underway: Palace

The investigation into the water supply problem in some areas in Metro Manila is underway, Malacañang said Thursday.

“We are precisely investigating to know exactly what is happening or what’s the cause of the lack of water supply,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Panelo said the investigation will cover all possible angles to determine why areas under water concessionaire Manila Water are facing water shortage while those under Maynilad, another water concessionaire, are not.

“Kung totoo na puno ang Angat Water Dam, ibig sabihin inefficiency iyan, mismanaged (If it is true that Angat Dam is full, it means the cause is inefficiency, mismanagement),” he said.

Panelo assured the public that the government is doing something to address the issue.

He said the government will also make sure that those who are at fault for the water crisis in some parts of Metro Manila will be held “accountable.”

“Parang iyon ang gist noong sinasabi ni (Defense) Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana doon sa kaniyang chat na the water comes from Angat Dam and there is no shortage doon, (I think that’s the gist of what Secretary Lorenzana said in his chat that the water comes from Angat Dam and there is no shortage there) as far as that particular dam is concerned,” Panelo explained.

Both Manila Water and Maynilad get their water supply from Angat Dam.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Wednesday said several government agencies are working on an Executive Order (EO) that would allow the government to properly address the water crisis. (PNA)