Maynilad: Pay water bills in 10 days or else

Citing scare supply from Angat Dam, private concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) will give its customers in the Metro Manila west zone less time – 10 days – to settle their water bills. MWSI spokesman Jess Matubis told dzBB radio that the Lopez-owned firm would reduce the waiting time on collections and scrap the current 60-day deadline for payments. The report did not when MWSI would implement the move. In Metro Manila, MWSI services customers in Pasay, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas, Muntinlupa, Manila except portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana, some parts of Makati and Quezon City. Its concession also covers Cavite City and the towns of Rosario, Imus, Noveleta, Bacoor and Kawit in Cavite province. Matubis was quoted as saying that MWSI was now awaiting the decision of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) if the water supply from Angat Dam in Bulacan would be reduced. The dam supplies domestic water to at least 10 million people in Metro Manila. It also supplies irrigation water to farms in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga. Experts had warned of a water shortage should rains fail to pour over Angat Dam soon. Last week, the water level in Angat Dam hit 179.39 meters or almost a meter below the critical level of 180 meters. Matubis vowed that MWSI would pursue more aggressive measures against pilferers, but likewise appealed to customers to make a conscious effort to save on water. - GMANews.TV