by Lilybeth Ison/PNA
In a move to placate customers, who recently experienced water shortages, the Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI) on Tuesday announced a “voluntary and one-time waiver scheme” that would be reflected in the April bill.
“We understand the profound frustration that our customers in the East zone have expressed in the past three weeks since the unprecedented water shortage began in March 6,” said MWCI President and CEO Ferdinand dela Cruz, in a press conference held at MWSS building in Quezon City.
“To help ease in some way the inconvenience we have caused, we are announcing a voluntary and one-time bill waiver scheme in March to be reflected in the April bill of our customers,” he added
Dela Cruz explained customers will “receive a bill waiver of the minimum charge in their April bill, which reflects their March consumption.” The minimum charge is equivalent to the value of 10 cubic meters of water, which ranges from PHP76 to PHP656, depending on whether the supply is for domestic or industrial use, he said.
Dela Cruz said around PHP150 million in revenue losses will be incurred by the water concessionaire with the scheme.
For those who suffered 24-hour no water for seven days within the March 6-31 period, their entire March bill will be waived, he noted.
Dela Cruz likewise said that technical solutions are being put in place to help stabilize the water supply distribution regime across the East zone of Metro Manila in efforts towards water recovery.
“As of March 25, our 8-12 hours water availability at ground floor level has reached 97 percent. From a high of 61 severely affected barangays (villages), we are now down to just eight barangays which are dependent on interim network solutions, static tanks or water tankers,” he said.
Dela Cruz said the MWCI water supply deficit was also reduced from 150 million liters per day (MLD) to 107 MLD or about one-third has been restored. This will improve further by end March, by then, about 99 percent water supply will be restored.
However, he noted there are still small pockets, sitios or streets with intermittent to no water situations resulting from MWCI operational adjustments and pressure management.
“Manila Water remains hard at work to bring back 24/7 water service to all our customers even at reduced pressure. We continue to work with the MWSS (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System) in addressing this situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco said the action of Manila Water to waive a one-time bill scheme is just voluntary “notwithstanding what is in the concession agreement,” meaning there are other penalties that may be imposed against them.
“This voluntary action is a product of our negotiations with Manila Water to mitigate the sufferings of East zone customers due to water supply shortage,” he said.
“I would just like to emphasize that this waiver scheme of MWCI was just voluntary on the part of the concessionaire. There are other penalties being studied by the MWSS Regulatory Office with regards to violation of concessionaire’s agreement,” he noted.
“It’s up to the MWSS Regulatory Office to impose (other penalties) according to the agreement and the factors involved in coming up with the final penalties to be slapped against the Manila Water,” he added.
