Aquino urged to junk water privatization

Citing a recent United Nations (UN) resolution declaring water and sanitation as a fundamental human right, militants urged the government anew to junk water privatization. The Water for the People Network (WPN) said privatization violates the human right to water, adding that water shortage is a direct result of the privatization of water resources and utilities. "In the Philippines, the privatization of public water utilities has worsened the people’s access to water ... 16 out of 100 families in all income classes do not have access to safe water," the group said. The group added that in Metro Manila, water rates have continued to increase since the privatization of the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). According to a report of the WPN, the privatization of MWSS resulted in a drastic rise in water rates, by 357.6% for Maynilad and by 414.4% for Manila Water, in a span of only a decade, between August 1997 and January 2007. The group urged government to junk current privatization projects such as the Angat Dam, and instead conduct a review of major privatization projects like the MWSS. On July 28, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution recognizing access clean water and sanitation as a basic human right. It cited concern for around 884 million people worldwide without access to water, and called on governments to scale up efforts in ensuring clean, safe, adequate water especially in poor countries. WPN noted less than 60% of Maynilad’s service area in the west zone has 24-hour water service, while Manila Water claims 99% water supply coverage in the east zone but does not distinguish areas with direct household connection from those serviced by private water suppliers. WPN said the recent water shortage in Metro Manila should challenge the Aquino administration to urgently reverse the privatization of water services "that has benefited only the private water corporations and elite families in the country, while further increasing the burden of poor Filipinos with excessive user rates and deficient service." "The UN resolution should also prompt the government to take more seriously its responsibility of providing adequate and affordable water for the poor," it said. –VVP, GMANews.TV