Noynoy Aquino's Men:

New DPWH secretary Rogelio "Babes" Singson had a sudden attack of "delicadeza" when he purportedly gave up as "chair" of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems or MWSS citing "conflict of interest".

Singson only had this "epiphany" shortly after an interview over DZMM and when he already assumed the post.

Singson, before assuming the DPWH post, is the top executive of Maynilad, a public utilities corporation.

Singson only gave up the chairmanship after media reminded him of a conflict of interest. I don't believe that he did not know that there's a problem prior to assuming the post.

Fact is, his very appointment smacks of the absence of delicadeza.

He's the representative of Big Business in government and we all know that Big Business right now is eye-ing other government businesses and services which the State plans to privatize.

Had we not pointed this out to him, Singson would not have relented and would have taken over the MWSS with impunity. Such is the lack of delicadeza of a few of the President's men.

What is there at the MWSS that is so juicy and so salivating that Singson wants nothing more than its chairmanship?

Water rates. MWSS is now acting as the regulatory body that protects the public's interest in water services of two concessionaires--Maynilad and Manila Water. MWSS is the one who approves water rates. Probably, Singson is so desirous to control it because his backers are salivating on increasing water rates.

Woe is the Filipino consumer! We already have a cartel over oil prices. We have a mammoth and inefficient electricity cartel, likewise in rice cartel. Now, even water is slowly being cartelized and commodified.