MWSS, Maynilad oppose sale of Angat Dam power plant

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. urged yesterday the Power Sector Asssets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) not to go ahead with the privatization of the Angat Dam hydro-electric power plant and instead allow the MWSS, along with Maynilad and Manila Water Co., to acquire full control of Angat.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel yesterday, MWSS administrator Diosdado Jose Allado and Maynilad president Rogelio Singson reiterated their objection to the plan because of its inherent conflict with water supply.

Allado pointed out that Angat supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirements while the Angat power plant only supplies two percent of the country’s power requirement.

Allado blamed the National Power Corp. (Napocor) for the current low level of water in the Angat Dam which now stands at 186.17 meters, just over six meters above the critical level of 180 meters.

The MWSS administrator, citing water release figures of Napocor, revealed that Napocor was responsible for the release of the excess water collected from typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng which could have alleviated the current water supply shortage brought about by the El Niño weather phenomena.

 He said Angat Dam can tolerate a water level of 217 meters. However, under a flood water protocol, Napocor is allowed to release water down to 210 meters.

According to Allado, Napocor did not take into consideration the warning of Pagasa which pointed out as early as November last year that the El Niño weather pattern would lead to a drought this year.

Allado said Napocor continued to release water up to the third week of December last year when it had already become apparent that Angat’s water level was reaching a level that indicated that any releases should be done only for domestic water use and not for irrigation or any other purpose.

The release of water, Allado explained, is necessary for power generation purposes to activate Napocor’s hydro-electric turbines.

Larger releases of water for irrigation enables Napocor to generate more power rather than lower releases for domestic water use, Allado said.

Acknowledging that the privatization of the Angat power plant is mandated by the EPIRA Law, Allado said that the MWSS and the two water concessionaires are willing to compensate PSALM for a takeover of the Angat power plant, citing a possible offsetting from the P11 billion that the Napocor owes the MWSS for various liabilities.