Metro water rate hike gets MWSS nod

MANILA, Philippines —  Households in the Greater Manila Area will face higher water bills starting next year after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) approved the rate hikes for Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water.

Patrick Lester Ty, MWSS-RO chief regulator, announced yesterday that the average rate increases starting Jan. 1, 2025 would be P7.32 per cubic meter for Maynilad and P5.95 for Manila Water.

This is the third tranche of tariff adjustments within the five-year rate rebasing from 2023 to 2027.

Ty said the MWSS-RO approved the higher water rates after the two concessionaires met the investment threshold, as measured by their capital expenditures (capex) from 2023 to 2024, on improving water security within their jurisdictions.

“If they a reach a reasonable target, then we approve their tariff adjustments. If they do not spend the necessary capital expenditures, then we will not allow them,” Ty said in a press briefing yesterday.

Under their revised concession agreements, the two concessionaires must put their capex up front before being allowed to have a water rate hike to recoup their investments and earn a profit.

Manila Water achieved 81 percent of its cumulative capex target in 2023 to 2024 after it spent P32.668 billion while Maynilad spent P47.591 million during the two-year period, achieving 83 percent of its cumulative capex target.

The 2025 rate increase for Maynilad will translate to an increase of P10.56 per month for lifeline customers, P20.08 per month for those consuming below 10 cu.m., P75.89 for those using 10 to 20 cu.m., and up to P155.32 for 30 cu.m.

For Manila Water, the rate increase would translate to an additional P2.87 per month for lifeline customers, P24.68 per month for regular customers consuming below 10 cu.m, P54.79 for 20 cu.m., and P111.83 for 30 cu.m. in monthly consumption.

Ty encouraged beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to enroll in the lifeline programs of both Manila Water and Maynilad to take advantage of the discounted water rates.