Water rate hikes in Metro Manila inevitable —MWSS administrator

The looming increase in Metro Manila's water rates is inevitable, an official of the metropolis' waterworks regulatory body said Sunday, noting that the petitions for bills adjustment by the two concessionaires are still being studied.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator Rey Velasco told Super Radyo dzBB that hikes in water rates are inevitable because the two concessionaires —Maynilad and Manila Water —are spending for the improvement of their services, and they will recoup the expenses through rates adjustments.

Velasco: 'Yung taas-singil sa Maynilad at Manila Water ay pinag-aaralan pa peo inevitable 'yan. Tayo ay gumagastos para mapaganda ang serbisyo sa bayan gaya ng mga sewerage system. Syempre kapag gumastos sila, babawiin nila. https://t.co/z3DZeChnPa

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 8, 2018

He said that the MWSS is not given budget by the government and the expenses for water service improvement are being shouldered by the concessionaires.

Velasco: Hindi naman tayo binibigyan ng pera ng gobyerno sa GAA dahil sa ginagastusan ito ng mga concessionaire. https://t.co/z3DZeChnPa

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 8, 2018

But last week, the MWSS granted the petition of the Manila Water Co., Inc. to raise water bills, which will affect consumers of the metropolis' East Zone being serviced by the firm.

The MWSS allowed Maynilad to raise its rate by more than P6 per cubic meter, which will to be implemented on staggered basis, the firm's spokesperson Jeric Sevilla said. —LBG, GMA News