MANILA, Philippine — Water rates would rise and traffic congestion would further worsen in Metro Manila if a Supreme Court order compelling Manila Water Co. Inc. to pay P921.5 million for violating the Clean Water Act is enforced, the company said on Wednesday. “The daily loss of P3.5 billion caused by existing traffic congestion could balloon significantly,” added the publicly listed company, the water concessionaire for eastern Metro Manila and parts of Rizal province. In a decision promulgated on Aug. 6, the Supreme Court affirmed a decision of the Court of Appeals that found Manila Water and the MWSS guilty of violating Section 8 of the Clean Water Act. Manila Water, which last week filed a motion for reconsideration in the Supreme Court, said it had complied with its sewerage responsibilities under the Clean Water Act and that it should not be fined. Refund, fineBesides the penalty slapped by the Supreme Court for violating the Clean Water Act, Manila Water was fined by the MWSS.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 09, 2019 21:33 UTC