Changing the Script

T

he agreement between Maynilad and the homeowners in the Las Piñas portion of BF Homes is being spun to death by an avalanche of contradictory or confusing statistics and gross distortions. This is being fanned by Maynilad’s mix signals as to who will bear the cost of the infrastructure.

No excavation permit

The truth is Maynilad cannot proceed to lay down the pipes for the water system without excavation permit that city hall refuses to grant.

Right of Way (ROW) Fee

Maynilad’s announcement of pass-on/will not pass-on the cost of the infrastructure to homeowners provides the opportunity for city hall to propose a re-writing of the contract with the BFHI declaration of the Las Piñas portion of BF Homes as an OPEN AREA and a right of way fee of P10 per cu.m. of water consumption of every homeowner payable to BFHI. Maynilad is reportedly agreeable not to pass on the cost of the infrastructure with the conversion from private to OPEN AREA of the Las Piñas portions of BF Homes Subdivision.

Simultaneous pass-on/will not pass-on policy

When Maynilad was seeking extension of its franchise, it made known its policy to fund from the capex budget the cost of infrastructure. Coinciding with approval of its franchise, Maynilad’s President Rogelio Singson justifies the reversal of that policy with the announcement that “…the existing policies of MWSS will still govern the concessionaires.  When we say we are ready to include and assist private subdivisions, what we are doing in BF will continue.  We still cannot subsidize private subdivisions under existing policies of MWSS and under HLURB/PD-1345.”

Of course this is outrageous. The MWSS had installed main water pipes on El Grande, Aguirre and President Avenues, but the residents were not asked to pay for their installation and maintenance. Other gated subdivisions such as Times Village in Las Piñas City and Annex 1618 enclave in Better Living, Parañaque City also had their water system rehabilitated but the repair costs were not passed on to consumers.

Ultimately, homeowners believe the burden of paying for the water infrastructure should not be passed on to consumers. This question will be eventually resolved. For the moment, what is important is to have potable water in our taps instead of a rhetorical battle.

OPEN AREA

Part of the allure of subdivision living is the comparative privacy and exclusivity which the residents enjoy. Otherwise, we might as well have lived along the main road and spared ourselves the expense of paying a premium for our abodes. Perhaps our politicians would not would not think too highly of their idea of general access through subdivision roads if it were they whose relaxation would be disturbed by the constant honking of horns and the screeching of tires, or if they had to live in constant fear of a wayward car plowing through their front doors, decimating the entire household, maids, children and all.

Let’s proceed with the assurance that we are all in the same boat. Let’s not change the script!