It’s MWSS that should test and calibrate water meters

I sued Maynilad for its exorbitant and unrealistic water bills ranging from P4,613.22 to a high P8,829.99 a month. I agreed to an amicable settlement provided, among other conditions, that the water metering device Maynilad installed at my residence will undergo laboratory test and calibration. Maynilad representatives came to my residence to remove my water meter for laboratory test and calibration at Maynilad’s office.

I was shocked and extremely surprised because I thought it is the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), being the government regulatory agency for water use and the only body vested with the duty and responsibility to regulate, control and supervise all waterworks within its jurisdiction (Section 2 (c), Republic Act No. 6234), that should do the laboratory test and calibration. Upon inquiry, the office of the MWSS chief regulator, Dr. Joel C. Yu, told me the MWSS does not conduct laboratory test and calibration because it does not have the facilities for the purpose. The test and calibration are done by the concessionaires themselves with the imprimatur of the MWSS! Why don’t they have those facilities?

Water concessionaires have pecuniary interests contrasting that of the public. What will prevent the concessionaires from tuning the calibration of its water meters to register more than what is actually being consumed? Besides, the results of the laboratory test and calibration could be expected to be self-serving for the concessionaires.

I believe, there is a clear and blatant violation by the MWSS of Section 3 (g) of RA 6234 which expressly mandates that the duty and responsibility to “mount, dismount and remount water meters” exclusively and solely vests in the MWSS. So, why does the MWSS delegate this exclusive duty and responsibility to its concessionaires, to the prejudice of the public? There should be an answer to this.

—REX G. RICO, rico_associates@yahoo.com