Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services will no longer charge the government the P7.4 billion arbitrary award the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) granted them in Singapore, Tuesday.
At the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accounts, Manila Water President and CEO Jose Almendras said they would not demand payment from the government anymore.
They will also work with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to study the concession agreement.
Also, Almendras said that they will not implement yet the approved water bill charge increase in January next year.
Manila Water, Maynilad Water Services drop P7.4-B claim from the government
Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez meanwhile said their company would no longer pursue the P3.4 billion claim from the government also granted by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Singapore.
Fernandez also said they are still studying whether to continue their water rate hike next year.
In 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened Manila Water and Maynilad to fix the water crisis in Metro Manila.
“If Ayala and Pangilinan are your friends, kindly tell them, hindi naman ako lumabas, kung may magyaya sa akin…’pag mag-abutan tayo maski ilang bodyguard, ‘yung mukha mo, putang ina, kaya ko gawin ‘yan,” said Duterte on Tuesday, December 3, in Malacañang.
(I don’t go out, but if someone invites me out…if we see each other, no matter how many bodyguards you have, I can ruin your face, son of a bitch.)