MWSS administrator Diosdado M. Allado (right) presides over a briefing regarding the Laiban dam in this file photo. Allado denied a GMANews.TV report that said that the agency approved Mayniladâs 15-year contract extension. Ruby Anne M. Rubio
The chief of Metro Manilaâs water agency denied a GMANews.TV report which said that Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) has secured approval to extend its contract for 15 years. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) âhas not completely acted upon or formally approved the request of Maynilad for the extension of its concession agreement," said a text message sent by Diosdado M. Allado, the agencyâs administrator. âAny report or statement that suggests that this is a completed process and we have granted the said request of Maynilad is premature, inaccurate, and irresponsible," the text message added. On Tuesday, GMANews.TV reported that Mayniladâs petition to extend its contract to 2037, instead of 2022, was approved by the MWSS Board of Trustees, citing sources familiar with the matter. See story
here. If its contract extension secures MWSS approval, Maynilad is still required to seek the endorsement of the Department of Finance. On Tuesday, various text messages sent to Allado and other MWSS officials requesting clarification of the matter were unanswered, as of the storyâs posting time. On the same day, Maynilad â through its corporate communications officer â said that the petition was still being discussed by officials.
- Robert JA Basilio Jr., GMANews.TV