The Supreme Court has upheld its earlier decision to substantially reduce the fine imposed on Manila Water Co., Maynilad Water Services Inc., and regulator Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System for missing the five-year deadline under the Clean Water Act for connecting residential subdivisions and other establishments wastes to available sewerage system.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources found Manila Water, Maynilad and MWSS, jointly or severally, liable for violating the provision on sewage connections in May 2009 and imposed a fine of P29.4 million for the four months between May and September.
On top of that, the DENR also imposed a daily fine of P200,000 a day until full compliance plus a 10-percent increase every two years.
Manila Water, Maynilad and MWSS appealed the DENR decision to the Court of Appeals, which sided with the DENR. Then in October 2019, the three elevated the case to the Supreme Court.
The high tribunal agreed with the DENR’s decision but ruled to reduce the daily fine to P30,000 and allowed the company to comply with the full sewerage coverage in 2037. The Supreme Court also determined the period for paying the daily fine between May 7, 2009 to January 21, 2022.
Instead of paying around P1.2 billion, as computed by Context.ph, over the period, the Supreme Court calculated the fine to be paid at P202.3 million.
The DENR, through the Solicitor General, asked the Supreme Court to reconsider the reduced fine but on January 17 this year the high court rejected the appeal with finality.
