Friday, March 14, 2008 Firms announce water rate cut
CONSUMERS of the Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI) and Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) would enjoy a new round of water rates reduction following a downward adjustment of minus 62 centavos and 34 centavos per cubic meter respectively, effective April 1.
Alberto Agra, government corporate counsel of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO), said this means that all consumers of the two water companies would be covered by the rate reduction, which would be reflected in their bills in May.
Agra said the rate reduction stemmed from the continued strengthening of the peso, which resulted in a downward adjustment in the Foreign Currency Differential Adjustment (FCDA).
He said the MWSS Board of Trustees approved the downward adjustment last March 11, which translates to about a 62-centavo reduction per cubic meter for the MWCI and 34 centavo reduction per cubic meter for MWSI.
He said this reduced rates translates to a monthly savings of about P1.49 for MWCI costumers that consume at least 10 cubic meters of water per month; P3.31 for those that consume 20 cubic meters per month; P6.76 for those that consume 30 cubic meters per month; and at least P41.03 for those that consume 100 cubic meters of water per month.
MWCI, which serves the east zone, covers residents of Cubao, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, San Juan, Mandaluyong, part of Quezon City, Makati, Manila and Rizal province.
Agra said for those under Maynilad, residential consumers who pay about P502.36 per month or their water consumption, would enjoy a savings of P3.74; while those registered as semi-business and pays P677.85 per month for their consumption would get a P5.14 savings.
Those classified as Business Group 2 and pays P4,798.55 for their monthly consumption would enjoy a P37.53 savings; and those classified as Business Group 2 and pays a consumption of P5,189.56 per month would get a savings of P40.67.
MWSI which serves west zone covers those in Pasay, Navotas, Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela, Parañaque, parts of Quezon City and Makati City, Imus, Noveleta, Cavite City, Bacoor, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Manila.
Agra said the reduce rates would be on top of the 20 percent rate reduction given households served by MWCI and MWSI that consume 10 cubic meter of water or less per month.
He added that aside from these current rates reductions, the MWSS continues to explore other ways to further reduce the rates.
He said among the proposed measures include the possible extending of the concession agreements of MWCI and MWSI for another 10 years which, if approved, could translate to a 40 percent reduction in "water rate increase", and the possible inclusion of Bulacan in the served areas of MWSS which could "cause a significant decrease in water bills of all consumers." (JMR/Sunnex)
