Millions of residents in Metro Manila face higher water costs starting next month as the industry regulator approved tariff hikes for both of the region’s main concessionaires to account for fluctuations in foreign exchange.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWISS) announced Friday, March 13, that customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. will see upward adjustments in their monthly bills for the second quarter of 2026.

MWISS said the increase was driven by the foreign currency differential adjustment, a quarterly mechanism that allows utilities to recover losses or return gains from the servicing of foreign-currency-denominated loans used for infrastructure projects.

For Maynilad, which serves the West Zone, the tariff will rise by ₱0.09 per cubic meter, resulting in a ₱0.27 monthly increase for households consuming 10 cubic meters or less. Those with a monthly consumption of 20 cubic meters will see bills rise by ₱1.00, while households using 30 cubic meters will pay an additional ₱2.07 per month.

In the East Zone, Manila Water will implement a more modest all-in tariff increase of ₱0.05 per cubic meter. Residential users consuming 10 cubic meters will see their monthly bills edge up by ₱0.14, while those using 20 cubic meters and 30 cubic meters will face adjustments of ₱0.29 and ₱0.58, respectively. The new rates for both providers are scheduled to take effect from April through June.

While rates are rising broadly, a segment of Maynilad’s customer base in the southern Manila region will receive a reprieve. 
MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said the agency has ordered Maynilad to refund a total of ₱42.5 million to approximately 98,331 customers served by the Putatan and Poblacion water treatment plants.

The rebate, amounting to ₱432.92 per affected customer, will be credited starting in April and is expected to more than offset the quarterly rate hike for those specific households.

The refund follows a penalty imposed by the regulator after Maynilad failed to maintain the mandatory 24-hour uninterrupted supply at a minimum pressure of seven pounds per square inch.

Maynilad attributed the service disruptions to the “Amihan” season, noting that weather-driven changes in the raw water quality of Laguna Lake forced the company to reduce production levels to meet national drinking water standards.

The company stated it is currently fast-tracking infrastructure upgrades to bolster supply reliability in the south against volatile raw water conditions.