House urged to probe water rate increases

The House of Representatives should look into the price adjustment schemes which water concessionaires, Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) and Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI), used to increase water rate charges.

This was the appeal made by House Minority Floor Leader Carlos Padilla in House Resolution No. 498, asking the House committee on Legislative Franchise to conduct an investigation on the projected water rate increases of both water companies.

Padilla said the investigation would help protect consumers from the adverse effects of the water rates adjustment and recommend appropriate measures to reduce the monthly water bills of consumers.

"Services to distribute clean and potable water is a crucial element in promoting the socio-economic welfare of the people, the availability of which on a regular, affordable and uninterrupted basis, is essential to economic development as social well-being," Padilla said.

Padilla said consumers, particularly those in the urban areas, have been complaining of the price adjustment scheme adopted by the water concessionaires which include not only the basic charge but also the foreign currency differential adjustment, environment sewerage charge, meter service charge, currency exchange rate adjustment, and value added tax (VAT).

He also stressed that effort to conserve water had become an "exercise in futility" because of the periodic changes in the rates charged by the water concessionaires.