Ducky Paredes

Malaya (07.30.08)

“Who are the persons who decide on who gets fired and who replaces them and why is the appointing power so shameless in putting in their own people even when these have been so steeped in notoriety?”

by Ducky Paredes

Why is it that the good people in government never stay too long? What is even worse is when the replacement turns out to be worse than the one replaced.
The Metropolitan Water Sewerage System (MWSS)was an outstanding agency last year under its previous manager. It showed great promise and, in fact, was among the few government agencies that was meeting its Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) targets. For instance, for the first time, the water requirements of 200 waterless baranggays in Metro Manila were addressed, as well as the regulation of the water reticulation systems of private subdivisions and villages.
Moreover, a clear and feasible set of water connection guidelines was finally established, consequently providing uninterrupted potable water to countless resettlement and low-cost housing projects. (This was never done before because both Maynilad and Manila Water considered this as “NRW” or “Non-Revenue Water”).
It was also during the former manager’s time that a policy was instituted, so that the price of water of prospective proponents would not go beyond the limits set by the Regulatory Office and the buying price of the two concessionaires. Because of this, monthly water bills were kept to a minimum. Equally beneficial was the issuance of Memorandum Order 283, which directed the DILG, MMDA, and concerned LGUs to clear MWSS waterways (including sewerage) of “informal settlers” in order to ensure the efficient and uninterrupted supply of clean water to residents of Metro Manila.
There’s a saying that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” The MWSS certainly was not broken. In fact, it was doing quite well. So, if this was the case, why was the administrator responsible for these reforms fired and replaced?
Unfortunately, the former administrator did what only the brave and the foolish do in government. He saw what was wrong with the MWSS and tried to do something about it, without, first, making sure that he had protected himself. The best way to do this is to, first, get yourself someone powerful who supported what you were doing; use him for protection. This administrator left himself open when he started exposing anomalies and corruption within the MWSS. By doing so, he threatened the existing order that had kept everybody happy for such a long time.
Thus was the former MWSS administrator was unceremoniously fired,  a new administrator — Diosdado Allado — promptly took over.
There is a pending joint investigation by the OGCC, CSC, and COA about a payroll padding scheme uncovered by Allado’s predecessor, amounting to an overpayment of P136 million to 104 “mystery” employees. Upon discovering the scam, the employees involved in perpetrating it were issued suspension orders. Of course, when Allado stepped in, he immediately welcomed these employees back. They are no longer suspended and are as powerful as they have always been.
Again, there is a pending investigation into possible wide-scale anomalies in the construction of the Pinugay (Antipolo City) Sewerage Treatment Project. The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) had filed plunder and graft cases against the MWSS to try to stop the agency from proceeding with the work. According to the case filed by VACC, the bidding process was highly irregular. Several Administrative Orders were violated outright; the winning bid was as well as being overpriced by at least P150 million. Still, Allado has given the go-signal to continue with this project, based on the original plans and the original winning bid.
Under Allado, there are also reports that MWSS properties and facilities are being used for personal and sometimes even “commercial” use.
The MWSS Board of Trustees (including Allado himself, of course) never had it so good. They receive large per diems for twice a week board meetings, “anniversary bonuses”, hazard pay and up to 27-month bonuses. (What could be so hazardous about being on a board that meets twice a week in the MWSS office in Balara?)
In the area of project implementation, Allado changed the implementation framework of some big-ticket water projects to a JVP (Joint Venture Project) arrangement without getting the approval of NEDA or utilizing the CPF (Common Purpose Facility). The CPF was precisely implemented as a means for the two existing water concessionaires (Maynilad and Manila Water) to conduct bidding requirements, hasten the completion of projects, and mitigate graft and corruption. With this facility in place, why would Allado need to “sidestep” it and cook up his own JVP arrangements?
The Laiban Dam is estimated to cost approximately One Billion Dollars, and already had a loan concession (approved by NEDA) from China. Due to the ZTE controversy, however, the government decided to put its implementation on hold until 2010. When Allado took over the MWSS, he immediately pursued a Joint Venture Agreement for this project with CalEnergy, and was even brazen enough to sign a MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) with the US firm without clearing this with other goverrnment entities.
Allado himself admits that when CalEnergy comes on board with the Laiban Dam project, the cost of water will be more expensive than what we are currently paying. So, now, the MWSS (under Allado) is pursuing a billion-dollar project, whose final outcome will be more expensive water for the consumer!
And, to think that Allado has filed a graft charge against his predecessor – for buying government bonds with money that is held in reserve to pay for certain loans.
Incidentally, Allado’s dark past also includes having been charged with kidnapping with homicide by Senator Ping Lacson when Ping was still head of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission! And, where are those alleged members of the the Allado gang now? They are all at the MWSS occupying high-level positions and controlling the water agency!
Why does this happen in government? Who are the persons who decide on who gets fired and who replaces them and why is the appointing power so shameless in putting in their own people even when these have been so steeped in notoriety?

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(07.29.08)