Calapan City officials hit water rate increase

CALAPAN CITY , Philippines   â€“ Officials here have asked the water utility company that serves the city to stop the “astronomical increase” in water rates, saying this is “unreasonable, punitive and burdensome” to consumers.

In a letter to the Calapan Waterworks Corp. (CWC), Calapan City Mayor Arnan Panaligan said the water rate hike should not be effected immediately because it was approved by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) without hearing the side of the consumers. 

Calapan residents have complained that their water bills have more than doubled since October last year. 

Panaligan vowed that his administration would explore all possible legal remedies “to protect the welfare of our people.” 

Based on records, water rates here have increased from P900 per month to almost P2,000 per month since last year.  

The NWRB claimed the new rates were approved because nobody on record opposed the increase.

Jolly Ting, chairman of Calapan Ventures Inc. which owns CWC, said the increase in the water rates passed through the legal process.

He denied that it was arbitrary, saying the CWC also took the interest of Calapan residents into consideration.

He admitted that there is lack of high water pressure and 24-hour service in certain areas, but said the CWC is in the process of improving its services, which was the basis for its application for water rate increase. 

“From 26 barangays, we are now serving 32 barangays, which correspond to an additional 3,516 families who are now enjoying clear and potable water,” Ting said. 

Panaligan said that while the city government acknowledges that CWC is a profit-oriented company, it is appealing to its management to “humanely” consider lowering its rates.