BIBETH Orteza Siguion-Reyna complained that when she got her bill for water service interrupĀtion, it was P7,000, with a rebate for P150, the cheapskates!
A BPI banker didnāt know if she should cry for joy or in shame afĀter she was billed P1,500 (in norĀmal times, it was P300), followed by another bill showing a negative P1,000. They owe her P1,000!
My bill, usually between P280 and P320, was down to P55; how was computation done?
Giving credit where praise is due, it was a surprise to find our taps flowing, not just dripping, as AnĀgatās level dipped to critical levels. Still, we need 13 storms to refill the dam. Right on cue, some politiĀcians are dreaming of establishing a Department of Water, as if the saĀliva flowing out in copious amounts from Congress could create rain and H20.
Worse than this wet joke is that as the 50-year-old Angat continues to age, no grandchild is being built as yet to serve the National CapiĀtal Region. There may be plans for the future, but are there ongoing programs to catch the excess waĀter from overflowing dams, mounĀtains and forests during the coming typhoon season? We owe it to the next generation, whose numbers continue to grow exponentially, to store water falling from heaven and save what nature so lavishly gives us.
The way present plans are going, this is according to what an official of the National Water Resources Bored (theyāre so bored they canāt think straight) said in a TV interĀview: āThe Cardona water treatĀment plant (of Manila Water) is not the remedy.ā Now youāre telling us.
That leaves prayer as the last reĀsort. Do we have to keep paying top salaries to the guys in MWSS and NWRB just to watch them pray for rain?
Gabriela Congresswoman Arlene Brosas wants heavier penalties on Manila Water and Maynilad for fallĀing on their job to distribute waĀter, at the same time invoking force majeure, an act of God, for their failure. Her suggestion will gain traction if she calls for MWSS and NWRB to join in the rebates game. Make them pay, in pesos, for failing to anticipate yearly, seasonal, inevĀitable drought and water shortages. Make them pay, pray like the rest of us. No cash out ā aye, thereās the catch.