Metro Manila water rates will increase starting next year following changes in tax rates, environmental charges and foreign currency differential adjustments, according to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO).
In a briefing on Thursday, MWSS-RO said starting next year, Maynilad low-income lifeline customers consuming an average of 10 cubic meters (cu. m.) per month or less, will pay an additional P10.56 in their monthly water bill.
Maynilad’s regular residential customers using an average of 10 cu. m. per month or less will pay P20.08 more. Those consuming 20 cu. m. per month will see an upward adjustment of P75.89, while those consuming 30 cu.m. per month will have P155.32 additional charges in their monthly bill.
Manila Water lifeline customers consuming an average of 10 cu.m. per month or less will have an increase of P2.87 in their monthly water bill.
Regular Manila Waters customers consuming 10 cu. m. or less will pay P24.68 more per month while those who consume 20 cu. m. per month will be charged P54.79 more.
Those consuming 30 cu.m. per month will pay P111.83 more.
MWSS-RO said the rates adjustments were approved after a thorough evaluation on the amount of investments the water service providers need to recover.
“We monitor their capex spending for the rate rebasing. Before we allow them to increase their tariff, we will check the actual spending, not just their target,” said Patrick Ty, MWSS-RO chief regulator, in a briefing.
Ty said the concessionaires’ investments help ensure adequate water supply.
“If we do not invest (in infrastructure), we will not be able to maintain the quality of service to consumers. If you notice, this year, we did not have a significant water service interruptions because of Manila Water and Maynilad’s investment in new water sources, pipe replacements, reduction of non-revenue water and treatment of waste water,” Ty said.
Earlier, Maynilad and Manila Water announced plans to invest up to P344 billion in infrastructure projects from 2023 to 2027.
