DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Water District (DCWD) allayed fears of a looming water rate hike in Davao City despite the high inflation rate and implementation of the several infrastructures under the PHP10 billion Tamugan water bulk project.
”We have tightened our belt to prevent a water rate increase,” DCWD deputy spokesperson Jovana Duhaylungsod said in an interview on the sidelines of the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday.
Duhaylungsod said DCWD has carefully planned its budget for projects until next year so it would not result in a rate increase.
If ever DCWD imposes an increase, Duhaylungosd said it would not take effect immediately because it goes through a long process, even as long as five to six years before an approval can be obtained.
Duhaylungsod said DCWD usually requests for water rate increase if it can no longer cope with the prices of materials necessary for service connections, such as pipes.
Inflation, she said, remains a factor in considering a rate hike but this largely depends on “our operational expenses,” she said.
The last rate increase imposed by DCWD – at 30 percent – was approved in 2005, implemented progressively in the span of three years.
DCWD is currently in the implementation stage of its PHP10 billion Tamugan bulk water project, which seeks to build the largest private bulk water supply with a fully renewable energy powered water treatment plant.
The project will supply Davao City of up to 300 million liters of water per day. (Lilian C Mellejor/PNA)
