DENR raps 3 firms for violation of Clean Water Act

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued yesterday notices of violation to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the two water concessionaires, servicing the east and west zones of Metro Manila, for failing “to install completely or provide sufficient” wastewater treatment facilities.

Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza announced this during the International Earth Day celebration at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, as he vowed to step up the campaign to enforce the country’s environmental laws amid what experts dubbed as “creeping” climate change, which threatens archipelagic and low-lying nations like the Philippines.

“We have enough laws but we are not enforcing it enough,” Atienza said.

“So, now there is no letup in our effort to strictly enforce the environmental law for the protection of our water bodies. And we, at the DENR, are also concerned with the degradation of Manila Bay, Laguna Lake and Pasig River,” Atienza said.

According to Atienza, MWSS, Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. violated a provision of the Clean Water Act (RA 9275), which was signed March 22, 2004.

He said that Section 8 of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9275 provides that within five years following the effectivity of the law, MWSS and/or water concessionaires in Metro Manila as well as other highly urbanized cities should establish wastewater treatment facilities and sewerage system.

“Under the Clean Water Act of 2004, the MWSS was mandated to provide water supply and sewerage facilities within that five years. Likewise, based on their concession agreements, both Maynilad and Manila Water were required to put up their respective wastewater treatment facilities,” Atienza pointed out.

“But all three firms failed to put up sufficient wastewater treatment facilities as the water quality in Pasig River and Manila Bay remain not compliant with the DENR standards,” he added.

“The failure of MWSS and the concessionaires to provide, install and maintain the necessary waste water treatment facilities for sewerage system has resulted in the degradation of the receiving body of water including Meycauayan, Marailao and Obando Rivers, which ultimately drain into the Manila Bay,” Atienza said.