Firms warn of 100% water rate hikes after MWSS cancelled deal extensions

Water rates in may increase by more than a 100% after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) cancelled the extension of the concession agreements of Manila Water and Maynilad, the water firms warned on Wednesday.

Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said the cancellation of the  extension of the concession deals would cause a "significantly high" increase in the water rates.

"Maraming factors ang kailangan i-compute... It's definitely more than 100%," Fernandez said.

Manila Water board member Antonino Aquino agreed with Fernandez's forecast.

"Ganun na rin siguro yung mangyayari dito," Aquino said.

MWSS deputy administrator Leonor Cleofas confirmed that the board on December 5 decided to revoke its resolution approving the extension of the concession agreements with Maynilad and Manila Water.

The board resolution was to extend the concession agreements by another 15 years from 2022, she said.

Surigao Del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers described Maynilad and Manila Water's prediction as "very scary."

"Samakatuwid, kung ang taong bayan ay nagbabayad ng P10 per cubic meter, magiging P20 na ito. Mahigit sa P20. Medyo nakakatakot isipin itong mangyayaring. Mas malaking pahirap sa ating mga kababayan itong sitwasyon," Barbers said.

The lawmaker, however, is hoping that the government and water companies could find a way to alleviate the effects of this increase on the consumers.

"I'm sure marami namang pwedeng gawin na measures para maibsan," Barbers said.

"Hindi man natin mapigilan yung pagtaas at pagkansela ng extension, siguro marami naman ding paraan na pwede nating pag-usapan ng gobyerno at ng mga concessionaires," he added. —NB, GMA News