![]() It is my personal view that public services are better privatized if governments are corrupt and inefficient. The private sector basically saved Metro Manila from the water crisis, but problems seem to have caught up with them this year. The contracts were made during earlier administrations and were based more on politics than on providing public service efficiently. Maynilad caters to nine million customers. Manila Water serves seven million customers through a concession valid until 2037. “The arbitration award issued in our favor is for acts in breach of the procedure committed by officials of the previous administration, not the Duterte administration,” Manila Water said in a statement, adding that it was willing to cooperate with Duterte’s government. The two firms argued that the rate hikes were necessary to improve utility service coverage and water pressure in homes. That will not happen if the water companies and the government cannot agree to negotiations. The losses were aggravated by not allowing the two groups to raise their rates, they claimed.Īs far as the public is concerned we need water efficiently delivered to our homes. Maynilad won a separate arbitration last year. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore ordered the Philippine government to pay Manila Water P7.4 billion ($145 million) to recoup foregone revenues from rate increases that were rejected by regulators. It is his misfortune that the problem reached crisis point during his tenure. It did not happen during Duterte’s time but from the neglect of other governments before him. Foreign countries are surprised when they see pictures of floods, rising water side by side with stories of no water for citizens use. But it is true with the Philippines today. The speaker, a sailor on a becalmed ship, is surrounded by salt water that he cannot drink. “Sometimes you’ve to go through the hardship to get back to the good ship,” Smith said.This comes from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He bought bottled water Tuesday and said he hopes Jackson is on track to solve its water woes. Jackson resident Bernard Smith said he filled containers with water Monday night in case his home lost service. Lumumba said last week that fixing Jackson’s water system could cost $200 million, but Tuesday he said the cost could run to “quite possibly the billions of dollars.” Mississippi is receiving $75 million to address water problems as part of a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Similar problems happened again early this year, on a smaller scale. A cold snap in 2021 left a significant number of people without running water after pipes froze. Jackson has longstanding problems with its water system. “We have seen steady improvements in the system,” Lumumba said. ![]() The mayor said Monday that low water pressure could last a few days, but by Tuesday he said some customers were regaining service. The reservoir also has a role in flood control. Jackson has two water-treatment plants, and the larger one is near a reservoir that provides most of the city’s water supply. In a video that one of his sons posted to social media, Sanders - also known as Coach Prime - said he wanted to move players into a hotel so they could shower. Jackson State University brought in temporary restrooms for students, and Jackson State football coach Deion Sanders said the water crisis left his players without air conditioning or ice at their practice facility. Jackson schools held classes online Tuesday and Wednesday, and some restaurants closed. Those who did have water flowing from the tap were told to boil it to kill bacteria that could make them sick. Low water pressure left some people unable to take showers or flush toilets and officials said the low pressure caused concern for firefighting. The city’s population is now more than 80% Black, with about 25% of its residents living in poverty. Its tax base has eroded the past few decades as the population decreased - the result of mostly white flight to suburbs that began after public schools integrated in 1970. Like many cities, Jackson faces water system problems it can’t afford to fix.
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