Friday, January 04, 2008
Arroyo orders extension of services of Manila water, Maynilad (9:54 p.m.)
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office to study the possible extension of the 25-year concession agreements and grant of tariff adjustments to Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI) and Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI).
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the directive was made as the President extended her appreciation to MWCI for voluntarily taking measures to cushion the impact of their water rate increases on their consumers.
The MWCI, instead of imposing the P2 per cubic meter increase, opted to implement it in three tranches where the first 69 centavos would be included in the January billings, followed by the second 69 centavos on the second billing and the remaining 70 centavos on the March billing.
"The published rates for average residential consumers of P2.08 per cubic meter which was supposed to have been implemented by Manila Water last January 1 was reduced by two-thirds. The full increase will be implemented by April 2008," Bunye said.
He said to further express her appreciation, Arroyo ordered MWSS Regulatory Office officer-in-charge and current Government Corporate Counsel Alberto Agra "to explore additional mitigating schemes in current and future tariff adjustments." (JMR/Sunnex) |
