MWSS orders Manila Water, Maynilad to give 30-day grace period, 3-month installment for ECQ, MECQ bills

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) on Wednesday directed concessionaires Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to provide a one month grace period and a three month installment scheme for water bills falling due within strict quarantine periods.

The order is in “solidarity with the spirit and intentions of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2),” the MWSS Regulatory Office (RO) said in a statement.

The MWSS RO directed the water distributors to grant all customers a 30-day grace period to settle their water bills that fall due within the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified ECQ (MECQ) periods.

It also ordered Manila Water and Maynilad to implement a three-month installment scheme for all cooperatives; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and domestic customers after the grace period.

“The said directives will provide customers ample time to update payments for water bills that fell due within the 04 to 18 August 2020 MECQ period without incurring interests, penalties and other charges,” it said.

To recall, Metro Manila and its nearby provinces reverted to MECQ after medical frontliners asked for a “time out” amid rising COVID-19 cases being admitted to hospitals.

“The MWSS RO assures the public that it will do everything in its mandate to protect their welfare and provide the assistance they need to alleviate the financial burden brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,” the regulator said.

Maynilad, Manila Water to comply with directive

Maynilad corporate communications head Jennifer Rufo said the water utility will comply with the MWSS’s order.

“We will comply with the guidelines as we have always done,” Rufo said.

Likewise, Manila Water corporate communications head Jeric Sevilla said the company will abide with the 30-day grace period for ECQ and MECQ bills “since we have already been providing extended payment terms for our customers.”

“If you will recall, all ECQ bills since March 2020 were given initially six months to settle their bills until September 30. The 30-day grace period especially for those MECQ bills covering August 4-18, 2020 will provide them further relief,” Sevilla said.

Manila Water, he said, has also put off disconnection of services since the imposition of ECQ. 

“Also, Manila Water does not charge customers with interest and penalties. Please note as well that before any current bill gets disconnected, there is already a 60-day window for customers to pay their bills,” he said.

On the installment scheme, Sevilla said Manila Water will further discuss the directive with the MWSS RO “since we have been extending promissory agreement with our customers for all bills, ECQ, MECQ or not.”

“Promissory arrangements, depending on customer’s paying capabilities, in fact, ranges from three to six months,” he said.

“We wish to assure our customers that Manila Water recognizes the plight of our customers given the current situation and we continue to provide all means possible to alleviate their payment concerns,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News