Solons urge suspension of water rate hike

Three congressmen urged the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) yesterday to suspend the huge water rate increase set to take effect next month.

In a statement, Representatives Maite Defensor (Quezon City), Del de Guzman (Marikina) and Joel Villanueva (party-list) said Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water will double their rates to about P27 per cubic meter and P17 per cubic meter, respectively.

They said when the rates are adjusted, the bill of a household consuming an average of 30 cubic meters will rise from P598 to P810 for Maynilad customers and P281 to P510 for those in Manila Water’s service area.

They said the MWSS itself approved the increase in October and is still in the process of hearing petitions from various sectors for it to reconsider its decision.

Thus, there is need for a suspension of the increases that the regulatory agency has allowed, they added.

They also questioned the agency’s decision to approve huge increases, pointing out that privatization of the water distribution service in Metro Manila should have resulted in lower instead of higher rates.

They stressed that in January, if the higher rates are allowed to be collected, Maynilad will have charged a fee that is 438 percent of its bid for the west service area, while Manila Water’s fee will be 632 percent of its bid.

In 1997, when MWSS privatized water service in the metropolis, the Lopez-owned Maynilad submitted the lowest bid of P4.96 per cubic meter for the west zone, while Manila Water, which is controlled by the Ayalas, won the bidding for the east zone by offering a rate of P2.23 per cubic meter.