President Rodrigo Duterte seeks to amend the burdensome terms of the concession agreement between the Philippine state and two water concessionaires, the Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company, Inc. The Malacañan foresees the flow of events where the government will suggest the new terms in the agreement. If the concessionaires assent to them, there would be no problem; otherwise, the state will eventually move for the rescission of the water supply contract. “Unang-una, pag-uusapan muna. Ibibigay natin ‘yong ating terms. ‘Pag pumayag sila, wala nang problema, pero ‘pag hindi sila pumayag, mag-fa-file tayo ng petition sa court para i-rescind and kontrata” (First of all, this will be discussed. We shall lay down our terms. If they agreed to them, there would be no problem at all. If they will not, we shall file a petition with the court to rescind the contract), predicts Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
In a separate news, the palace informs that the government is disposed to negotiate with Communist Party of the Philippine Founding Chairperson Jose Ma. Sison, with reservation that he must be honest and sincere on this. “‘Yong mga nakikipag-usap, hindi dapat nagbibigay ng kondisyon. ‘Yon ay kailangan, papasok ka doon, bukas ang iyong loob at puso na magkaroon ng kapayapaan ang ating bansa” (Interlocutors must not set any condition. This entails that they enter the conversation with an open heart that peace will govern the country), explains Panelo.
With regard to the Chief Executive’s plan for the upcoming Christmas, the Malacañan says that he, as usual, envisages a Christmas celebration with his family.
