MMDA, Maynilad to restore water supply to Tondo tenements

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently met with officials of the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. concerning the restoration of water supply to residents of tenements at Vitas in Tondo, Manila.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said Vitas residents need not suffer from water shortage because the water firm is losing much money from illegal water connections in the area.

Fernando said Maynilad should not pass the burden to its customers but instead come up with ways to solve the problem of water pilferage.

“Why do the people have to suffer from the company’s systems loss? They should be provided with sufficient water supply,” he said.

Fernando found out in a recent inspection of the Vitas tenement buildings that water from the pipelines could not reach the units in the upper floors because of low water pressure.

As a result, residents use drums to store water, which, aside from taking up much space, are unsightly and often serve as breeding grounds for dengue-carrying mosquitoes, he said.

Fernando promised to help the estimated 1,000 families living at the 27 medium-rise tenement buildings in Vitas as he announced that he has received the approval of the Manila Water Works and Sewerage System to help in the repair and rehabilitation of the water lines at Vitas and provide the residents an uninterrupted supply of water.

The MMDA’s aim in providing 24-hour supply to the Vitas tenement houses is part of the agency’s “Tondominium” project, which seeks to rehabilitate, repair, and beautify the tenement houses in Vitas as well as the entire Tondo area. – Rhodina Villanueva