MANILA, Philippines—The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) on Thursday (September 16) directed Manila Water Company, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. to suspend disconnection activities in areas under Alert Level 5 or areas under granular lockdown.

In a statement, the MWSS said the suspension will remain until such time that the restriction has been lifted.

The directive comes after implementation of alert levels system and granular lockdowns in certain areas of Metro Manila beginning September 16.

“In this critical time when public health relies on access to clean, safe, and sufficient water supply, the Concessionaires have also been directed to ensure water supply availability within their Service Areas,” the MWSS further said.

Meanwhile, for areas not under Alert Level 5, the MWSS encourages Manila Water and Maynilad customers to settle their bills to ensure continuity of services.

To provide assistance to customers who are facing the economic challenges during the pandemic, the agency previously directed the water concessionaires to offer flexible payment terms.

The MWSS also ensured water supply availability within the service areas and encouraged customers to conserve water.

“Rest assured that the MWSS will continue to proactively operationalize measures to aid customers and protect consumer welfare especially in this time of adversity,” the MWSS said. AAC

MANILA, Philippines — Ten areas will shift to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) classification from Sept. 8 to 30, Malacañang announced Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved the following areas to be placed under MECQ:

• Apayao
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Cavite
• Lucena City
• Laguna
• Rizal
• Iloilo Province
• Iloilo City
• Cagayan de Oro City

Roque, who also serves as IATF spokesperson, said Metro Manila will be downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ) from Sept. 8 to 30.

He said that during this period, a pilot testing of the granular lockdown will be implemented. Guidelines for pilot areas may be released on Monday or Tuesday.

Metro Manila was previously placed under MECQ from Aug. 21 to Sept. 7.

Meanwhile, the following areas will shift to GCQ with heightened restrictions:

• Ilocos Sur
• Ilocos Norte
• Cagayan
• Pangasinan
• Quezon
• Batangas
• Naga City
• Antique
• Bacolod City
• Capiz
• Cebu Province
• Lapu-Lapu City
• Negros Oriental
• Zamboanga del Sur
• Misamis Oriental
• Davao City
• Davao del Norte
• Davao de Oro
• Davao Occidental
• Butuan City

The following areas will be under GCQ:

• Baguio City
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Benguet
• Dagupan City
• Santiago City
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Tarlac
• Occidental Mindoro
• Puerto Princesa
• Aklan
• Guimaras
• Negros Occidental
• Cebu City
• Mandaue City
• Zamboanga Sibugay
• Zamboanga City
• Zamboanga del Norte
• Misamis Occidental
• Iligan City
• Davao Oriental
• Davao del Sur
• General Santos City
• Sultan Kudarat
• Sarangani
• North Cotabato
• South Cotabato
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Cotabato City
• Lanao del Sur

The rest of the Philippines will be under MGCQ, Roque said.

MANILA, Philippines – A Senate panel is set to tackle this week the franchise applications of concessionaires, Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company.

The Senate committee on public services will conduct the virtual inquiry on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

“It is the goal of our committee to ensure that the franchise applicants will indeed put the welfare of our people first,” Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the committee, said in a statement.

The senator earlier assured that the bills will go through a fine-tooth comb and challenged the applicants not only to provide access to safe and clean water, but also root out the inconvenience of constant water interruptions.

Citing 2013 and 2016 studies, Poe said the Asian Development Bank has rated the country’s water security at the bottom quarter out of 48 Asia-Pacific countries, with poor governance as the main cause, not water scarcity.

Currently, 15 million Filipinos still do not have access to water while more than 55 people die every day from water-related causes, she added.

“Now more than ever, access to safe and affordable water is basic and crucial in our fight to douse the risks and perils of the unseen virus,” Poe said.

Maynilad Water services the west zone area of Metro Manila and the province of Cavite while Manila Water maintains the waterworks and sewerage system in the east zone and the province of Rizal.

Among the guests invited to the hearing are some officials from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Manila Water, Maynilad, Philippine Competition Commission, Department of Justice, and some representatives from consumer groups.