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Bayan bares ‘hidden increases’ in water bill


The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) pointed out on Thursday what appears to be "hidden increases" in the water bill after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems approved the rate hike application of the two concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water.

In Maki Pulido's report on GMA "24 Oras" on Thursday, Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. dissected a water bill and noted that as the basic charge increased, other fees such as the environmental charge and value added tax also got bigger.

"'Yung impact nung inaprubahang increase ay mas malaki kesa dun sa kanilang sinasabi at inaanunsyo," Reyes said.

Reyes projected that if a household consumes 30 cubic meters per month, the basic charge increase should only amount to P26.39 but if the increase in environmental charge, Foreign Currency Differential Adjustment (FCDA), and VAT were factored in, the overall increase would amount to P36.68.

"Nagmumukha tuloy silang hidden increases kasi magugulat ka na lang meron palang ganun," he said.

The MWSS, however, said that the increases were not hidden, noting that it presented the same computation in a public hearing.

"Hindi sya hidden increase lalong lalo na sa FCDA. Sa environmetal charge tama sila tsaka sa VAT it depends talaga yan sa tariff. Pag umakyat ang tariff mo syempre may percentage 'yan," MWSS chief regulator Patrick Ty said.

In October, the MWSS approved the P5.73 per cubic meter water rate hike of Maynilad and P6.26 per cubic meter rate increase of Manila Water.

These will be implemented on a staggered basis within five years. —Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News

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