Manila Water resumes meter reading, bill distribution

Customers of Manila Water Company, Inc will receive a longer water bill this month now that the water concessionaire has resumed meter reading.

Manila Water spokesperson Dittie Galang told GMA News that the bill will include a breakdown of consumption during the enhanced community quarantine period. The firm had previously billed customers based on their average water consumption from December last year to February this year.

“Yung mga nakaraang buwan, nag-average billing kami based on the average consumption three months prior to the ECQ. So ngayon na nakapagbasa na ng metro, nakita na natin yung actual na naging konsumo ng mga customers. Kinailangan naming tingnan kung may kailangang adjustments doon sa kanilang naibayad na or kung sa na-bill sa kanila noong panahong nasa ECQ tayo,” Galang said during an online video interview.

Manila Water resumed meter reading on June 1.

“Normally, we would read and bill. Yung pagbasa ng metro, ipi-print out agad yung bill tapos ibibigay agad sa customers. This time, naglaan kami ng isang linggo mula roon sa meter reading hanggang doon sa pagde-deliver ng bill para ma-apply namin yung mga kailangang adjustments kung meron from the time na under ECQ tayo,” Galang explained.

She said Manila Water has started delivering bills to its customers on Monday for the June 1 to 15 cut-off period. The bill includes the actual consumption during the quarantine period.

“Meron ngang posibilidad na naging mas mataas yung konsumo nila nitong mga nakaraang buwan kaysa doon sa naging average na billing. Kasi kung iisipin natin, yung average billing ay based on December, January, February, yoon yung mga malalamig na buwan. And by history, historically, yung mga March, April and May, yan yung mga buwan na pumasok na ang tag-init at talagang tumataas ang konsumo ng tubig ng mga customers,” Galang said.

“Maaaring malaki yung pagkakaiba ng average billing nila roon sa actual consumption. And yun din, nasa bahay yung lahat ng mga miyembro ng pamilya. Most probably, mas maraming tao yung gumagamit ng tubig sa mas maraming oras within the day. And mas naging madalas ang disinfection, madalas ang paghuhugas ng kamay, mas madalas ang pagliligo,” she added.

To avoid bill shock, Manila Water bill for the month of June will include not just a breakdown of consumption during the quarantine period, but also the current charges and payments already made.

“Kung meron man silang binayad noong mga nakaraang buwan under ECQ, magre-reflect din ito sa kanilang statement of account. And makikita dito na hindi na ito kasama sa total amount due. Kung meron pa silang mga hindi nabayaran bago mag-ECQ, kasama pa rin yoon dito,” Galang said.

Galang also assured lifeline customers or those in urban poor areas consuming 10 cubic meters or less per month that they have the option to make payments in installment.

“Automatically, they will be entitled to installment options. They will have until August. They’re given three months to settle kung anuman yung naging bayarin nila noong ECQ months. And yung mga reminders and possibility of disconnection ay magsisimula lamang sa September na,” Galang said.

Non-lifeline customers, on the other hand, have until the end of July to settle their bill. No disconnection will be conducted until then.

“Yung normal na 60-day lead time. So they would have until the end of July to settle yung kanilang naging billing noong ECQ months. Magbibigay tayo ng notices or reminders pagdating ng August 1. Doon, puwede na tayong mag-consider ng disconnection,” Galang added.

Customers may contact Manila Water through the concessionaire’s hotline 1627 or by sending a private message to the concessionaire’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“Mas maging responsable pa rin sa paggamit ng tubig dahil makakatulong tayo para mapalawig pa yung ating supply and makakabawas din doon sa ating mga magiging bayarin sa mga susunod na buwan,” Galang advised the public. --KBK, GMA News