By Azer Parrocha/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte said he would not think twice about replacing officials of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for failing to address the water shortage in Metro Manila.
Duterte, in a speech during the PDP-Laban campaign rally in Tuguegaro City, Cagayan on Tuesday night, scolded MWSS executives for their lack of preparedness in handling the water crisis especially during the El Niño or prolonged dry spell.
“This week I will be firing…Alam mo ‘yang MWSS. Alam mo every — seasonal ‘yan eh (You know the MWSS. That’s seasonal). It comes with regularity ‘yang El Niño na ‘yan. Ilang taon kayo nandiyan (You’ve been there for many years) and you do not prepare for it? Duterte said.
Duterte also chastised the MWSS officials for failing to provide immediate solutions to prevent the country’s water supply from depleting.
“Why do you have to cause problem for the people when there are things that you can do at once?” he added, claiming that the MWSS “derailed” providing solutions to the problem.
“I will not hesitate to replace you all,” he added.
“Maraming Pilipino dito, maraming engineer dito na galing sa labas na mas marunong. Hindi lang nakakilala (There are many Filipino engineers who work abroad who can do a much better job). There are millions of Filipinos waiting outside, brighter than you, more smart,” Duterte said.
He stressed that he had no patience for engineers who could not address the country’s water shortage immediately.
“Kaya ako, pagka ganu’n, wala akong pasensya (That’s why me, when it comes to things like that, I don’t have patience). Either you can hack it or not. If you don’t, I’m sorry,” he added.
Earlier, Duterte gave MWSS and water concessionaires until April 10 to submit a report on measures to address the water shortage and prevent it from recurring.
Malacañang has yet to confirm if it has already received the report.
MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco said he is willing to resign if the water shortage problem in Metro Manila persists.
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