Maynilad: Don’t single us out for traffic congestion

Maynilad Water Services Inc. branded as unfair the way it was singled out as one of the culprits in the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila because of the slowdown of its excavation works.

Jesus Matubis Jr., assistant vice president for corporate affairs of Maynilad said the diggings of the firm were a non-issue as the majority of its projects were in areas where traffic is generally light.

Recently, the diggings of Maynilad were identified by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. as one of the causes of heavy traffic in the metropolis.

Abalos noted that most of Maynilad’s excavation projects were either abandoned or slowed down due to financial problems faced by the firm.

Maynilad president Rafael Alunan III admitted that the completion of the firm’s projects was delayed because it could not settle its obligations with its contractors.

The firm needs to pay hundreds of millions of pesos to its contractors for ongoing rehabilitation and improvement projects. Road restoration works for the suspended projects alone would cost Maynilad around P36 million.

Matubis noted that Maynilad was probably singled out because of the number of projects it has undertaken, representing more than a third of all the excavation works in Metro Manila.

However, he stressed that the projects are situated in non-heavy traffic areas and that Maynilad should not be used as a scapegoat for the traffic mess in Metro Manila.

Abalos for his part clarified that Maynilad was not singled out but was merely one of the many firms he mentioned that were conducting diggings in the metropolis.

He said the diggings are "justified" because the firm does have to rehabilitate many old pipes in their concession area.

Matubis said the projects could possibly be completed within the next few months and the road restoration works implemented with the recent signing of a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) between the firm and the Metrpolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

The MOC provides Maynilad with a very good chance of obtaining a $350 million loan from creditors to finance its projects and continue servicing its customers. — Marvin Sy