Consumer group urges MWSS chief to resign

MANILA, Philippines — A consumer group called for the resignation of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Leonor Cleofas amid her alleged involvement in irregularities surrounding the multi-billion-peso Kaliwa Dam Project.

«In Japan, because they think so highly of their government, those who are accused of corruption immediately resign from their positions,» said Rodolfo «RJ» Javellana Jr., United Filipino Consumer and Commuters-Water for All Refund Movement (UFCC-WARM) national president.

«But, here in the Philippines, government officials have lost the decency to do so. Instead, they will tighten their grip on power, and as the foundation of the government crumbles, they will suck up the last bit of power they can get before it is completely dissolved like leeches,» he added.

Javellana spearheaded the filing of criminal and administrative cases before the Office of the Ombudsman against Cleofas and seven other incumbent and former officials of the MWSS in connection with the construction of the P12-billion New Centennial Water Source—Kaliwa Dam Project.

In its 10-page complaint affidavit, the UFCC-WARM alleged that there were irregularities surrounding the project that the MWSS awarded to a foreign contractor, China Energy and Engineering Corporation (CEEC), in July 2018.

«This transaction entered into by the MWSS and CEEC was grossly disadvantageous to the Philippine government and prejudicial to the interest of the consumer sector in general,» said Javellana.

He pointed out that CEEC bagged the contract allegedly under questionable circumstances, from the bidding stage up to the project awarding.

«Apparently, laws were violated and regulations were set aside to favor a specific bidder. To sum it up, this was the story of the biggest anomaly in the history of MWSS that we are trying to unearth,» Javellana said.

The complaint stemmed from the release of advance payments to CECC amounting to P1.828 billion and standby costs amounting to P309.840 million.

Javellana said in the complaint that the «improper and rushed entry» into the Kaliwa Dam Project contract with CEEC and approval of «numerous questionable transactions