right to water

On Consumer Welfare Month: 20 years of MWSS privatization, 20 years of violating the people’s right to water

October 3, 2017

​By Water for the People Network- The 20th anniversary of the privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) in August was considered a milestone by privatization proponents. The MWSS has often been used to showcase the supposed benefits of turning over water supply services to private corporations. But the start of government-declared Consumer Welfare Month […]

Gov’t should spare consumers from water firms’ Php82-B back charges

October 3, 2017

As the Philippine government launches Consumer Welfare Month, the Water for the People Network (WPN) warned against impending unreasonable water rates should government yield to the monetary demands of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company. The network said that the Supreme Court decision that public utilities cannot pass on their corporate income taxes […]

Arbitration ruling favors corporate greed over people’s rights—WPN

August 14, 2017

Advocacy group Water for the People Network (WPN) said that the decision by the International Arbitration Court (IAC) requiring the Philippine government to pay Php3.4 billion to Maynilad Water Services, Inc. reflects the corporate bias of international mechanisms for resolving disputes between governments and private corporations. The Philippine government should learn from the public’s negative experience under […]

Megadams: unuseful, destructive–WPN

March 23, 2017

Ten thousand families in nine barangays inhabited by the Dumagat and Remontado indigenous peoples stand to be affected by the impending revival of the New Centennial Water Source Project (NCWS) in Rizal and Quezon In forums and activities held around international commemoration of people’s action for rivers and against large dams and in pursuit of […]

Filipinos lack access to water, electricity despite megadams

March 15, 2017

In commemoration of the International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Large Dams, Filipino groups opposed to large dams said that while megadams are supposed to supply cheap water and electricity to urban and rural communities nationwide, Philippine experience has proven otherwise. Indigenous peoples and support groups Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas […]

Privatized Water: Profit over Welfare

March 12, 2017

A Forum on Water Privatization, Large Dams, and Indigenous Peoples In commemoration of International Day of Action Rivers against Large Dams   Water is very essential to support peoples’ basic needs and should be free, safe, and accessible to the people. It has a vital role in the country’s agricultural development and national industrialization. To […]

Better jobs, better water? Privatization undermines work, water rights–WPN

March 22, 2016

  ​#BeyondElections2016 | ​As International Water Day is celebrated, water right advocacy group Water for the People Network (WPN) reiterates how neoliberal privatization has displaced jobs in the public water sector and led to more expensive water. The United Nations themed this year’s Water Day “Better Water, Better Jobs”. It stated that that 1.5 billion […]