There will be no water disconnection services during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period from August 6 to 20, according to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO).
On Wednesday, MWSS-RO directed Manila Water Company, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. to suspend all service disconnection activities (whether temporary or permanent) for the duration of the ECQ period, and to ensure water supply availability within their Service Areas.
This is in line with the declaration of an ECQ in the National Capital Region through Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution No. 130-A Series of 2021.
However, the MWSS RO still made an appeal to concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, Cavite, and Rizal, to allow the meter readers of the water concessionaires to continue their on-site water meter reading and billing operations during the ECQ period.
“This will enable the Concessionaires to bill their customers based on actual water consumption, and help minimize billing complaints that may abound if the customers were to be billed based on average consumption,” MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said.
The MWSS RO then directed both Concessionaires to ensure strict compliance of their meter readers and other personnel with the prescribed health and safety protocols in the conduct of read-and-bill.
“The agency will continue to protect the welfare of the public, especially during this difficult time of the pandemic,” Ty further said.
The last time that MWSS RO made the same suspension order on water disconnection activities was during May 15 to May 31 period when Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal was placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with “heightened restrictions.”