From MWSS to Maynilad, Manila Water

1971 – Former President Ferdinand Marcos creates the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) under Republic Act (RA) No. 6234 or the MWSS Charter. Under this law, the government gives the MWSS jurisdiction, supervision, and control over waterworks and sewerage in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

The government reforms and reorganizes the MWSS several times in succeeding years.

1995 – Former President Fidel Ramos signs RA 9041, or the National Water Crisis Act of 1995, to respond to a supposed water crisis. The law legitimizes the privatization of MWSS as well as of other state-run water facilities.

1997 – The Ramos administration privatizes the MWSS. The government awards concessions for supplying water to Metro Manila and surrounding areas to two private companies under a 25-year agreement. These companies are the Lopez-owned Maynilad Water Services Inc. and the Ayala-led Manila Water Company Inc.

Maynilad takes over West Zone, composed of the areas of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Parañaque, Valenzuela, parts of Quezon City, a part of Makati, Cavite City, and the municipalities of Rosario, Imus, Noveleta, Bacoor, and Kawit in Cavite.

Manila Water meanwhile begins to supply water to the East Zone, which includes the cities of Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan and Taguig, most parts of Quezon City, some parts of Manila, and the municipality of Pateros. The company also covers cities and municipalities in Rizal province further east of Metro Manila.

2007 – Maynilad undergoes a change of ownership. The consortium of DMCI Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. clinches 84 percent of Maynilad’s shares in a public bidding.

2011 – On August 1, Maynilad and Manila Water mark their 14th year as water suppliers to Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

(The series was produced under the Maggie de Pano Fund for Investigative Reporting on Health. The Fund, which is managed by Newsbreak, is made possible through a grant from Macare Medicals, Inc.)
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By: Paterno Esmaquel, Newsbreak’s Maggie De Pano Fellow
Source: Newsbreak, Sept. 13, 2011
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