00:00Good evening, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
00:04Some illegal connections are being cut off in a pipe in Manila
00:10that can affect even legal customers.
00:14Because of that, the water pressure is getting weaker.
00:18In addition to the possible entry of dirt into the pipe.
00:22Illegal water tappers are now looking for 3,000 pesos
00:28as well as those who can pay.
00:32This is Maki Pulido, Exclusive.
00:39The side of the cemented road has been blocked
00:42to reach the illegal connection to the pipe of Manila
00:45in this part of Barangay 95, Tondo, Manila.
00:48Five pipes were discovered illegally connected to the distribution line of Manila.
00:53But it is likely that there are other illegal connections to the five pipes according to Manila.
00:58There are more than 100 houses in Esquinita but there are only 12 contadors.
01:03There are reports from the captain of the barangay
01:06that someone is asking for 3,000 pesos to install an illegal water connection.
01:11We really need to catch them.
01:16They have evidence.
01:18They don't walk around.
01:20I receive a lot of messages.
01:23They are just concerned citizens.
01:25If arrested, they can be jailed for up to 12 years for tapping the distribution line.
01:30Those who benefited from the illegal connection will also be fined.
01:34It is more than 7,000 pesos if residential and more than 40,000 pesos if industrial.
01:39They will also pay for the damage to the mainline according to the Republic Act 8041.
01:44We trace it.
01:46We will look for it.
01:48He is the one we will charge for the illegal connection.
01:51There are 10 illegal connections cut daily by the Anti-Illegal Task Force of Manila.
01:57It is rampant due to the affected and illegal customers.
02:00First, due to the possibility of contaminants or dirt entering the distribution line.
02:05Second, the water pressure of legitimate customers will be lowered.
02:09For example, Lindsay's tap water,
02:12every 12 to 4 in the early morning.
02:16Every day, you have work in the morning,
02:18then you have to fill water in the early morning.
02:21It is really tiring.
02:22Barangay Chairman Ronnie Lee said,
02:24those who want to have a legal connection are having a hard time.
02:27Those who have not yet paid the water bill or have a previous case of illegal connection.
02:32I hope there will be a moratorium.
02:34I really want our neighbors to be legalized.
02:39In the main loans, we allow for staggered payments,
02:44provisory notes only.
02:45However, there are others who do not fulfill their provisory notes.
02:50They just approach us and we will look at the situation.
02:54There is no exact detail on how much water is lost due to illegal connection.
02:59But it is a part of 8% of commercial losses or water that was not supplied by Manila.
03:05For GMA Integrated News, Macky Pulido, for 24 Hours.
