‘Business without conscience is greed’
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go blasted the unjust provisions in the concession agreements with the country’s two water concessionaires.
In a privilege speech late on Monday, the senator questioned the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore ordering the Philippines to pay Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. billions of pesos for stopping the two water firms from adjusting their rates.
“I strongly believe that such a decision is not only disadvantageous to the Filipino people, it is also wrong,” Go said.
Go enumerated some of the unfair practices that water concessionaires engage in to make a profit, stressing that the companies continue to take advantage of Filipinos.
“W alan an gang bin a bay a rang corporate income tax angmga concessionaires na i to dahilp in a pa san as a mg a consumers, pagb ab ay arin pan ila n gay on an gt aong bay ana tang go bye rno?B um a ban an ga an gk ons um ong tubigng pub liko,patuloyp arin ang pa gt a as ni lang pres yo( These concessionaires do not pay corporate income ax because it is being passed on to the consumers, and now they want the people and the government to pay)?” the senator said in his speech.
“Manila Water, through its ‘fixers,’ have continuously opposed several water projects that would improve our water systems. Why, so they could build their own water provider and raise prices anytime?” he added.
“S a anna man kay on aka ki tang ku mp any ana hindi pam anna is a saga
waangmismong septic tank de sludging ni to, nan gong ole kt an as ila ag ad ng ‘environmental charge’ sakanilang mga consumers pararito.Anoito: pay now, service never (Where can you find a company that collects environmental charge for non-existing septic tank desludging. What is this: Pay now, service never)?” Go said.
“Furthermore, Manila Water has yet to comply with its contractual obligation to provide for sewerage and wastewater treatment facilities in Metro Manila, which clearly constitutes a breach of the concession agreement,” he added. “Ginigisanila ta y os asaril in a tin gm antika( They’ re sauteing us with our own oil).”
The senator clarified that he is not against businesses turning a profit.
“I strongly believe that promoting a culture of entrepreneurship and fostering a country that is conducive for business and commerce are crucial in creating a better life for us all,” he said.
But he stressed that “business without conscience is just greed.”
The senator also criticized those who negotiated the contracts: “Sinusino n aka upon ang pin a pa-bid atginagawa pa ang mg ak ont rat ang ito? Ba kit pin a lu so tn in yo a thin a ya anna ma gk ag an ito? hindi pam aka tao ang mg ak ont rat a.
Walabakayongmgapuso (Who are these lawyers and officials in power when these contracts were bidded and allowed this to happen? Aside from not being patriotic, these contracts are inhuman. Have you no heart)?”
“These contracts are not pro-people and are clearly meant to bleed money from the Filipino people,” he added.
The senator urged the renegotiation of the agreements “to eliminate or
neutralize those provisions, which are unduly disadvantageous to the government and align both governmental and private interests to one common goal: public interest.”
He also urged the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to “explore the possibility of terminating the extension of the concessionaire agreement.”