MANILA, Philippines – Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services will affect a rate hike in January 2020.
This is at the height of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive to review the contract between the government and the two water concessionaires.
Maynilad and Manila Water will implement around P3.00 per cubic meter price hike.
Add to this is the increase in the Foreign Currency Differential Adjustment (FCDA) and other foreign currencies that the two water concessionaires use in their loan payment.
In 2018, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has approved Maynilad and Manila Water’s rate increase petition.
For Maynilad, the approved rate hike is P5.73 which will be applied on a staggered basis for five years or until 2022.
Manila Water, on the other hand, had been allowed a rate increase of P6.22 to P6.50.
Meanwhile, with the expected rate hike, water service interruption will still be experienced by Maynilad and Manila Water consumers as the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has yet to increase Metro Manila’s water allocation despite the rising water level in Angat Dam.
As of Friday morning, the water level in Angat Dam was at 195.03 meters.
This, however, is still far from the dam’s normal operating level of 210 to 212 meters.
Authorities advise the public to continue to conserve water to maintain sufficient water supply in Angat Dam until the next dry season. (from the report of Harlene Delgado) /mbmf
