June 3, 2000, The Philippine Star, Editorial, Making life miserable,

June 3, 2000, The Philippine Star, Editorial, Making life miserable,

Employees of the Commission on Elections in Manila were sent home at noon
yesterday. In Caloocan, fights erupted among residents. Their problem: taps
have been dry since Friday in many parts of Metro Manila. The water supply is
expected to return to normal only later this evening, according to Maynilad
Water Services Inc. Long queues of annoyed residents carrying pails formed at
the few remaining sources of water, including fire hydrants, busted pipes and
fire stations. Maynilad and local governments fielded water tankers. Water
refilling stations made a killing.

At the start of a new millennium, residents in the country's main region are
queuing up for water. What happened? A 3,200-mm water main in Novaliches,
Quezon City that serves as the supply line to most parts of Maynilad's service
area had to be repaired. Meiscor, the contractor, was supposed to be rushing
the repair work for completion yesterday. But a butterfly valve that was being
repaired at the corner of Tandang Sora and Quirino Highway was accidentally
shut down. This built up pressure within the water main. At 8 yesterday
morning, the pressure tore a hole through the huge pipe.

If that explanation from Maynilad is too technical, try this: workers made a
mistake in their repair work and created bigger trouble. Are such mistakes
common? In Parañaque, where Maynilad is laying pipes, the contractor has
dug up, repaved and again dug up different parts of Sucat Road for the past few
months. A leaking pipe is taking ages to repair. Motorists should brace for
horrendous traffic jams when classes start this Monday and the monsoon season
starts.

Accidents do happen, but when a major project promises enormous returns, the
public is entitled to competent service. Maynilad should go after its
contractors who fail to meet deadlines or bungle their work. There must be a
penalty for those who make life miserable for millions of people, especially
when it involves a commodity as basic as water.