Daphne Oseña-Paez laments restaurant refusing customers service water: ‘It’s a basic right’

Image: Instagram/@daphneop

In many restaurants, service water is a basic provision and is at times the first thing served before one even makes an order.

Lifestyle maven, TV host and entrepreneur Daphne Oseña-Paez was understandably disappointed when an establishment refused to give her service water.

She narrated her experience on Twitter, sharing a picture of a cup of coffee and a cupcake she purchased.

Without naming the establishment or showing its logo, she recounted: “So I bought coffee for me and a cupcake for my daughter. I asked for service water. They said they can’t give water, I have to buy bottled water.”

“I said ‘Miss, bawal yan (that’s illegal). By law you have to give me water. I’m a customer,’” she wrote. “Naman. Let’s all try to do the right thing.”

“Seriously, Manila retail & restaurant scenes please level up and treat customers like they are your lifeline they really are,” she said.

“Without happy customers, your businesses will go bust. We all have to grow up and be civilized. Don’t make damot (be stingy with) water from a customer. It’s a basic right.”

“In fact malls should be providing clean and cold water stations so we could all just refill our water bottles… instead of encouraging people to buy bottled water,” she proposed.

While there is no national law that requires commercial establishments to serve free potable water, according to the 1987 Philippine constitution, “The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

The United Nations, of which the Philippines is a member state, recognizes access to water and sanitation as a basic human right.

Local government units (LGUs) have taken it upon themselves to enact ordinances requiring restaurants to provide potable water for free.

Just last March, Iloilo City passed such an ordinance, which covered restaurants and food outlets, reports SunStar. The City Council recognized that establishments serve water only when asked, have questionable water sources or require payment for water.

Signs stating “Free Service Water” must be visible in the establishment.

Should an establishment fail to comply, it will need to pay a P5,000 fine and faces suspension of its business permit. It will be shut down until it is able to comply.  /ra

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