The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSSRO) has assured water distributed in Metro Manila is free from coronavirus.
The MWSSRO said water concessionaires strictly follow the national standard for drinking water of the health department in treating water, and that the chlorine disinfection process is strictly followed to ensure water is clear from any bacteria or virus.
In spite of the suspension of water reading due to the enhanced community quarantine, water concessionaires urged their customers to determine their next bill by averaging their water consumption or payments in the last three months.
Manila Water has assured it will still implement the Foreign Differential Currency Adjustment (FCDA), a tariff mechanism formulated to account for exchange losses and gains arising from payments to Manila Water.
The MWSSRO has approved on the second quarter of 2020 the FCDA Php 0.21 per cubic meter decrease on the basic water charge of customers of Manila Water, resulting in a Php 5-cut in bill statements of customers consuming 30 cubic meters monthly.
“We will still apply the foreign currency differential adjustment especially downward naman ito and any under billing or over billing during this quarantine period. As soon as lifted na ang quarantine at mag-normalize ang meter reading at billing activities natin, automatic na maa-adjust ‘yon (As soon as quarantine is lifted and meter reading and billing activities normalize, it will be automatically adjusted),” Manila Water Corporate Strategic Affairs Group Head Jeric Sevilla said.
Maynilad, on the other hand, will have an additional Php 0.05 per cubic meter on top of its basic charge, resulting in an increase of Php 1.40 water charge per 30 cubic meters monthly.
Marcos slams water interruptions
Amid the spread of COVID-19, Senator Imee Marcos has slammed the continuing water service interruptions in Metro Manila.
The legislator denounced how water distributors are compromising the health of their consumers as sanitizing becomes a basic challenge due to interruptions.
“Observing the most basic anti-contamination measures like frequent hand washing, bathing upon returning home, and the thorough cleaning of utensils, laundry and surfaces on which the virus may cling, has become a challenge due to water interruptions,” Marcos said.
“Nasanay na lang tayo sa kapabayaan ng Maynilad at Manila Water. Ngayon na tag-init at bumubuwelo pa lamang ang COVID-19, parang nilalaro ng dalawang kumpanya ang kalusugan at mismong buhay natin (We have gotten used to the negligence of Maynilad and Manila Water. Now that it is dry season and COVID-19 has just started to spread, it seems these two companies are playing with our health and lives),” she added.
Maynilad has declined to comment but promised a continuing service amid the enhanced community quarantine. It added only a few elevated areas are experiencing water service interruptions.
Meanwhile, Manila Water clarified its 24/7 service since the National Water Resources Board normalized its water allocation distribution. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
