TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT:Reuters, MANILAThe Philippine government would take over the capital’s water distribution services if the two largest water firms refuse to accept the terms of new contracts that would be offered to them, the presidential spokesman said yesterday. Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water Co serve a combined 16 million customers under 25-year concession deals signed in 1997, but Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has labeled the agreements “onerous and disadvantageous” for ratepayers. “The chief executive is giving the water concessionaires the option of accepting the new contracts minus the onerous provisions without any guarantee of not being criminally prosecuted together with those who conspired to craft the very onerous contracts,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told a news conference. “Should Maynilad and Manila Water refuse to accept the new agreements, the president will order the cancelation of their present water contracts [and] order the nationalization of water services in their respective areas of operation,” Panelo said. Last month, the state water regulator canceled a 15-year extension of the water utilities’ concession after pressure from Duterte.

Source: Taipei Times January 08, 2020 15:45 UTC