Manila hospitals, businesses adjust operations due to water supply disruption

Because of the rotating water service interruptions being implemented by west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad), several hospitals and other businesses in Manila have to adjust their operations.

Amisola Maternity Hospital in Tondo, Manila, for instance, now only accepts emergency cases, according to a report on "24 Oras" on Tuesday.

"Hindi namin kakayanin iyon so talagang ang tinatanggap namin iyong emergency cases lang tsaka iyong naka-schedule for caesarian section," chief nurse Susan Delfonso said in the report.

Although hospitals are prioritized in water rationing, Delfonso said the water is still not enough.

"Kailangan namin ng tubig para maglinis pati iyong aming mga empleyado. Tapos ang aming outpatients gumagamit ng bathrooms. Eh ang dami-dami ng pasyente dito mula umaga hanggang gabi hanggang sa labas iyan. So kung walang tubig babaho kami," she said.

Meanwhile, a few businesses in Sta. Cruz, Manila, got confused with Maynilad's water interruption advisory, the report said.

The disruption in the area was supposed to start on Monday, and because of the advisory a car wash service center decided to adjust its operations. However, water was still dripping out of their faucets a day after.

Maynilad said the water was the remaining water in the pipes and will eventually run out.

While many parts in the metro don't have water, an area in Tondo was blessed with too much water because of a leak, the report said, adding Maynilad was supposed to attach a new valve stopper.  

Because of the leak, residents near the area took the opportunity to take a bath and store water despite the water's discoloration.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said in a report from “QRT” that the local government is doing its best to provide water to its residents through tankers.

“Three days ago nakahanda na 'yung aming disaster risk management. Lahat alerto 'yan pati mga firetrucks,” Estrada said.

“Kaya lang hindi maka-[responde] agad dahil sa dami ng naputulan ng tubig. Kaya nga kahapon I issued a memo sa mga teachers, lahat ng elementary and high school students holiday muna mga two or three days,” he added.

Some 1 million customers stand to be affected during the first 35 hours of the Maynilad's pipe realignment project, which began on Monday and will last until August 18.

Meanwhile, Maynilad issued an advisory, telling affected residents in Las Piñas and Cavite that the resumption of their water service will be on Wednesday morning instead of on Tuesday. —Trisha Macas and Andrei Medina/KBK/NB, GMA News