Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has ordered Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to suspend anew their respective service disconnection activities.

In an advisory, MWSS Regulatory Office (RO) informed the public on Monday that Maynilad and Manila Water have been ordered to extend their suspension of all service disconnection activities whether temporary or permanent, and to provide uninterrupted 24-hour water supply in their service areas.

This is until such time that the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) has been lifted, according to MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty.

"This is to ensure that all customers receive a clean and adequate water supply for their health and sanitation requirements, especially during this difficult time of the pandemic," Ty further said.

Over the weekend President Duterte approved the recommendation to place the National Capital Region-plus (NCR-plus) bubble under the MECQ until the end of the month.

Moreover, the MWSS RO requested the continued cooperation and assistance of concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) as the concessionaires conduct their meter reading and billing activities during the period of MECQ.

It was just two weeks ago when MWSS RO imposed the same order to Maynilad and Manila Water in light of the government declaration of an ECQ in the NCR Plus bubble, covering Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal), from March 29 to April 4.

Last year, Maynilad and Manila Water were also ordered to temporarily suspend their respective water service disconnection activities for the sake of many workers displaced and those struggling to pay their bills at the height of the pandemic.

As unpaid bills started piling up and the government began easing lockdown restrictions, both companies were eventually allowed to disconnect customers.