Manila Water COO quits post amid water shortage issue

Manila Water Co. chief operating officer (COO) Geodino Carpio has resigned from his post, the firm's communication manager bared on Tuesday.

"Nag-disclose na po kami dahil nagpadala na po kami ng liham sa Securities and Exchange Commission na tinanggap na nga po 'yung pagbibitiw ng aming chief operating officer na si Mr. Geodino Carpio po, effective po today," Dittie Galang, Manila Water's communications planning and tactical development manager, told Dobol B sa News TV.

"Ang natanggap lang po naming notice ay tinanggap na po ng aming Board of Directors ang kaniyang pagbibitiw. Pero siya po ay magtatrabaho pa hanggang sa katapusan ng buwan," she added.

Galang said the Manila Water's Board of Directors already assigned an officer-in-charge, Abelardo Basilio, following Carpio's resignation.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Manila Water said the company has already accepted Carpio's resignation as COO for operations.

"The resignation of Mr. Carpio and the appointment of Mr. Basilio will take effect at the close of business hours today," it said.

The water concessionaire said Basilio will serve as acting COO for Manila Water operations concurrently with his current roles as group director for Strategic Asset Management and Data Protection Officer.

"Mr. Basilio has been with the company for 22 years. He was previously our director of Technical Services Group, Group Director of East Zone Business Operations and OIC Head of Corporate Regulatory Affairs Group," the company said.

A series of water interruptions affected at least 1.2 million households in some areas in Metro Manila as well as in Rizal province last month.

The east zone concessionaire implemented the water interruptions to ensure that water supply can last until June or the rainy season. Due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, little rainfall are expected in the coming months.

Due to the shortage on water supply, President Rodrigo Duterte had threatened to fire Manila Water officials as well as personnel from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

Meanwhile, Galang said Manila Water is waiting for the decision of MWSS regarding their penalty for failing to provide sufficient water supply for its customers.

"Sa ngayon po naka-antabay pa rin po kami sa paga-announce ng MWSS nung penalty po na ipapataw sa aming kumpanya dahil nga po we fail to deliver 24/7 water service ng more than 15 days po... Hinihintay po namin ang kanilang desisyon sa penalty po na ito," Galang said. —Anna Felicia Bajo and Ted Cordero/KBK, GMA News