(Eagle News) – “Binigo ko kayo (I let you down).”
This was how the president and chief executive officer of Manila Water Company, Inc. Ferdinand dela Cruz, apologized on Monday, March 18, to its 1.6 million customers in Metro Manila and Rizal, saying he was holding himself “fully accountable” for the severe water interruptions that had crippled businesses and homes for more than a week.
Dela Cruz made the apology to the public during a House panel hearing on the water crisis.
“I am holding myself fully accountable for the sudden drop in our service levels… Noon pong nagsimulang serbisyuhan ng Manila Water ang publiko, ipinangako po namin na hindi na po kayo magpipila-balde at maghihintay ng nag-rarasyon ng tubig. Ngunit noong nakaraang linggo, binigo ko po kayo,” he said.
“March 6, 2019 is a date I will not forget as president of Manila Water,” he added.
-Ready to resign-
The Manila Water CEO even answered the question about his possible resignation made by Buhay Party List representative Lito Atienza.
Dela Cruz said he was “prepared to resign” but that his focus right now was the restoration of the water service to its customers.
“I am prepared to resign for failing the customers. But my focus now right now is to restore the service even if it’s in a slow process,” he said.
There were more than 260,000 Manila Water consumers who experienced severe water shortage – from extremely low water pressure to no water at all.
It started rationing supply to all its customers on March 14.
