Reform is never easy

Government service is sacrifice. The duty of being a public servant requires courage and heart to leave the silence and comfort of private life.

The baseless accusations and lies that have been recently coming out in media will not distract me from a vocation and call that I have said yes to. I will answer all of them.

1. 3 counts for not replying to the Labor Union’s letter of request to grant MWSS benefits within 15 days upon receipt of complaint — (Anniversary bonus, Mid-Year Financial assistance, Productivity Incentive bonus, Year-end Financial assistance bonuses).

2. 3 counts for the alleged un-authorized use of government vehicle — (Consultant fetched from Ateneo to MWSS for a meeting).

3. 2 counts for grave abuse of discretion for temporarily allowing 2 jeepney operators to use our front vacant lot as temporary terminals — (A temporary consideration I gave in the interest of public service to the commuting public, considering these jeepneys were occupying 2 lanes along Katipunan Avenue).

4. 1 count for paying 21 college students 75% of the minimum wage, instead of 60% when we approved their internship application through the DSWD-recognized program — (Government Internship Program).

 5. 3 counts for hiring of consultants without public bidding, whose salaries allegedly range from P50,000 to P400,000 — (consultants received P50,000 monthly under a 6-month contract with approval of the MWSS Board and the GCG. There is no salary higher than P50,000 per month.)

I write you to share facts, modest gains and accomplishments in three areas of reform - organization, delivery of long overdue water infrastructure and the process of water rates determination.

FACT: MWSS came from excess and a mistaken sense of entitlement. This was shown through bonuses arbitrarily given to the former governing board, officers and employees. They were illegal and unconscionably obscene, such a total disregard for people’s money and welfare. This was reflected by a negative P34 million income in 2010 while giving themselves fat and inequitable bonuses.

GAIN: We have eradicated most of the excesses, if not all, and have turned around the agency to positive net income of P334 million in 2011, and an un-audited positive net income of P 1 billion plus in 2012.

GAIN: We have given P150 million in dividends in 2012 and just recently given P345 million in 2013 to the National Treasury.

BUT dividends and financials will not be our legacy.

ACCOMPLISHMENT: Studies since the 70s recommended infrastructure improvements in our water supply network. In response, MWSS launched its Water Security Legacy Program in 2011 with the primary objective of securing the long-term supply of water for the 15 million residents in Metro Manila. The New Centennial Water Source Project (NCWSP) will be an alternate source of water for Metro Manila, other than the Angat Dam. The Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project (BBWSP) will provide water to municipalities in the province of Bulacan. The Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP) will fortify transmission lines built as early as 1939.

The full-blown feasibility studies of NCWSP, BBWSP and AWTIP are due for presentation to the MWSS management by the end of July 2013. We target NEDA Board approval and bidding by the fourth quarter of 2013.

ACCOMPLISHMENT: We have two NEDA approved projects namely, 1) Angat Dam and Dyke Remediation Project and 2) the Privatization of the Operation and Maintenance of Auxiliary Power Turbines 4 and 5 in the Angat Dam. Both projects are awaiting the final imprimatur from our top officials.

FACT: MWSS is now in the middle of the Rate Rebasing Processes where the water concessionaires’ proposed rates are being reviewed in detail and down to document level. There have been repeated questions from consumers in the past years that need to be satisfactorily answered.

GAINS: The MWSS Regulatory Office has been working very hard to adopt a more transparent process to ensure prudence and efficiency in the elements of past and future cash flows that drive the water rates. Public consultations have thus been more fruitful. The new water rates will be published in the coming weeks.

I have pushed for the re-organization of MWSS. This is a source of conflict with the Labor Union. It is my strong position that MWSS must regain its responsibility as the Guardian of Water Security for Metro Manila and not delegate everything to the 2 concessionaires. We are an Engineering agency tasked to do serious business. 40 percent of GDP is from Metro Manila and lapses in decisions and non-forward thinking will have serious consequences. Government is still the Principal and an agency with such high impact must have the manpower to engage, to protect, to deliver. The composition of our existing 126 manpower is biased for support and administrative services (1 technical is to 1.33 support wherein it should be 1 technical is to .78 support). MWSS will not be freed from its trap of complacency and entitlement without painful reform. I will not sacrifice the lives of 15 Million consumers for a handful of selfish employees that corrode the essence of service.

I continue to focus and work for a water security legacy way beyond our generation. What we do and do not do in MWSS will affect the lives of millions of Filipinos we serve in the years to come. Organizational collapse has been evident way before my term started. I have repeatedly told MWSS that we are public servants and no better than the teachers, soldiers, COA, DBM, and other public servants. We do not deserve special treatment.

However, there will always be resistance, pain and sacrifice. But, I know that there is redemption in the end.

So, did these baseless accusations and lies dissuade me from public service? No. These secured it.

Reform is never easy.