Category Archives: Government

Business, Government, International

Manila Water And Maynilad Bid To Be Water Concessionaires For Sydney, Australia

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – They may have offered to forfeit the P10 Billion due to them by the Philippine government as part of a Singapore Artibiration Court’s ruling, but  Manila Water and Maynilad are confident they will easily recover that amount, and more, in Australia.

The two firms, closely associated with the Ayala and Pangilinan oligarchy, have submitted a bid as new water concessionaires for Sydney which has been reported to be running out of water.

A joint spokesperson for the two companies said that despite the Philippine government’s plan to cancel their concessions as water distributors for Metro Manila, they are poised for bigger profits by taking their business to Australia.

The Singapore Arbitration Courts award to the firms stemmed from their claim of loss of revenue due to the Philippine govenment’s previous decision to block rate hikes on water consumers.

Government

Senator Grace Poe Wants Government To Provide Free Bottled Water To All Filipinos

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Mimicking Vice President Leni Robredo’s favorite expression, ‘nakakabahala’ (concerning), Senator Grace Poe today proposed that the government provide free bottled water to all Filipino households beginning in 2022.

Poe was reacting to the  non-renewal of the water distribution concession contracts of Manila Water and Maynilad (owned by Oligarchs, the Ayalas and Pangilinans) . This follows a decision by a Singapore Arbitration Court ordering the Philippine government to pay both firms a total of more than P10 Billion for “lost revenue.”

Poe says she fears that the cancellation of the water concessions will create a water crisis and severe shortage of  drinking water for millions of Filipinos.

As part of her proposal, the Senator said the government should provide all Filipino households with 100 cases of free bottled water each month.

Poe sought the help of math wizard Robredo to calculate the amount of bottled water that should be provided to households. (1 case a day per family of 5  x 30 days= 100 cases)

Government, International, Politics

U.S. Senate Committee Revives Issue Of Statehood For The Philippines

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – Just hours after the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution asking the Philippine government to release Senator Leila De Lima from detention and stop the harassment of Maria Ressa, Senators Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) submitted an all-important amendment.

The two are now wanting the Philippines to be annexed to the U.S. as the 51st state.

Statehood for the Philippines is not a new issue.  Many attempts have been initiated in the past to make Juan de la Cruz (referring to Filipinos) to become U.S. citizens by affinity.  The Philippines used to be a colony of America.

The proposed amendment comes after Markey and Durbin were reminded that the Philppines has long been independent and that their resolution has no bearing on the domestic and sovereign affairs of the country.

The news was met with enthusiasm by millions of Filipinos who have been trying to get visas to visit or immigrate to the United States. Just like little brother thanking big brother.