Gov. Guico is assisted by Vice Gov. Lambino and Provincial Legal Officer Baby Ruth Torre during the press conference.  (Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)

GOV. Ramon Guico III clarified news reports in national dailies last week that Manila Water Company, Inc. and its subsidiary terminated their 25-year concession agreement with the provincial government allegedly due to the latter’s “non-fulfillment of conditions”.

In a press conference on January 9, Gov. Guico said his administration was not aware that the Espino administration entered into an agreement last July 3, 2019, and worse, there were no pertinent documents relative to the cited agreement found in the capitol’s records for his review.

In essence, the governor said his administration could not have fulfilled the conditions that were not known to it.

“We honor any contract even of the previous administration as long as it is right,” he said.

He added the clarification had to be done because the news reports made it appear that the province was at default “which gave a bad impression to friends, business sector, because we are opening up the province for several investors.”

Provincial Legal Officer Baby Ruth Torre said her office was only made aware of the agreement after it received a communication from Manila Water last April 2023 requesting for a meeting to discuss the pending status of the agreement.

With no details of the agreement found, she said there was no way for the Guico administration to comply with the “agreed conditions.”

The only records found were the “Certificate of Successful Negotiation dated July 3, 2019 entered into by the consortium and the provincial government represented by then Provincial Administrator, Atty. Nimrod Camba, as the chairman of the PPP-SC.” and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Resolution No. 380-2019 dated June 28, 2019 that confirmed the agreement and granted Gov. Amado Espino III to sign “pertinent documents” for the implementation of the Pangasinan Bulk Water Supply Project.

The Provincial Legal Office also found out that there was no proof of publication of the invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Submit Comparative Proposals in reference to PPP provision, and there was no payment of Performance Security Bond.

Torre pointed out that the Guico administration likes the project and looks forward to a renegotiation, at the same time, she said it is also open to other proposals from other investors if the renegotiation with Manila Water will not materialize.

“Therefore, if we are to look at it, the province is actually not in default or not in any violation of any contract. But we believe that the contract actually died a natural death,” she said.  (Eva Visperas)

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