After more than a decade without changes, water bills in Mangaldan, Pangasinan will go up starting June 2025.

The Mangaldan Water District (MAWAD) announced that it will increase the minimum water rate from P125 to P147.50 next month.

The hike adds P22.50 to the base rate, with an additional two percent franchise tax to be charged against monthly water bills.

Victoria Pagaduan, a resident of Mangaldan, said she already received the notice from MAWAD after paying her current bill, which usually ranges from P250 to P350.

“Okay lang naman kung maliit lang, kung pasok sa budget namin kasi importante naman ang tubig,” she said.

According to MAWAD Senior Corporate Accountant Aira Jane Perez, the rate hike is necessary to sustain their operations.

“Ang pinaka-purpose nito ay dahil sa pataas ng electric at fuel. ‘Yun kasi ang pinaka-pumping source namin. Kung hindi kami magtaas, baka hindi namin ma-sustain ang operation,” Perez said.

She added that MAWAD filed the petition for the adjustment back in 2022, asking the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for approval to raise the minimum rate to P150. LWUA only approved the request in March 2025.

“Series of request po ito and March na-approved. Pinatapos lang namin ang eleksyon bago ang implementation,” Perez said.

The last time MAWAD raised its water rates was in 2013.

The new rate will apply to households consuming 10 cubic meters or less, raising their monthly base bill from P125 to P147.50.