Concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) is seeking a P13 to P14 per cubic meter increase in water rates that would be rolled out in the next five years, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) disclosed on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
Eduard Santos member of the Board of Trustees-Local Water Utilities Administration and former MWSS chief regulator, said Maynilad is proposing to increase its rate at P3.29 hike for 2023, P6.26 for 2024, P2.12 for 2025, P0.84 for 2026, and P0.80 for 2027.
“What this tariff means for our consumers is that starting January 2023, for those who use below 10 cubic meters (m3), there will be an increase of P12.62 per month, P5.28 for those using 10 m3, P20.35 for those using 20 m3, and P41.77 for those using 30 m3,” said Santos.
He added that, for 2026 and 2027, there will be a P0.17 and P0.21 difference, respectively, depending on the completion of an MWSS project.
The proposed P0.84 and P0.80 hike for 2026 and 2027 could be considered as “delayed implementation”. However, if it accelerates, the P0.17 and P0.21 difference will be added, resulting to P1.01 increase by the years indicated.
MWSS held a public consultation on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, with customers of Maynilad.
“The respective proposed increase rates by our two concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad, is an indicative tariff that will still be discussed by the board of trustees,” said MWSS Chief Regulator Atty. Patrick Ty.
“We do rate rebasing and public consultation drives every five years in order to raise awareness for the participants and stakeholders to know what is happening and to know the performance of the two concessionaires. We are pushing for transparency, accountability, and public participation,” he added.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is the water and wastewater services provider for 17 cities and municipalities that comprise the West Zone of the Greater Metro Manila area.
The next public consultation for Maynilad will be held on Wed. Oct. 26, 2022, in Las Piñas.