THERE will be no water rate increase yet for the residents of Davao City as the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has not responded to the application of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) as of this month.
DCWD initially targeted to get the approval or recommendations of the LWUA on their proposal to increase the current water rate by 60 percent in the middle of 2020.
In their proposal, P83 will be added per month to the current minimum rate of P137 for 10 cubic meters.
However, DCWD spokesperson Jovanna Duhaylungsod said they have not yet received any feedback from the LWUA.
“We submitted our application to LWUA prior to the pandemic or before 2019 ended and we are still waiting for the reply of the regulating agency,” she said.
She said the water rate hike is intended to support their 10-year business plan including the expansions and the improvements of water distribution facilities.
But without the approval of the water rate increase, she said they will make use of their existing facilities to serve the public.
“The focus right now is to improve our water services with the capacity that we have and make the most out of it,” she said.
She said they have already been receiving applications for new water connections from housing developers but will prioritize those areas experiencing intermittent water supply.
“Pag naay mag-apply sa amoa, atoa gyud nang gina-evaluate if kaya pa sa atoang existing supply nga ma-accommodate ang kaning ilang water requirement and if dili, atoa ni silang gina-advisan nga for the mean time dili pa ta ka-supply (We evaluate their application if we can still accommodate their water requirement and if not we advise them that we cannot supply yet),” she said, adding that they informed developers if there are construction of water facilities near their location.
“Naa na man gud tay mga areas na identified nga naga-experience na daan og intermittent nga water supply (This is because we still have areas that have been experiencing intermittent water supply),” she added.
She said most of the developments that have huge water demand are condominiums and subdivisions.
Meanwhile, Duhaylungsod also said that the Apo Agua project, which aims to distribute water from the Panigan-Tamugan River, has just resumed its operation.
Aside from that, she said they have also continued the construction of mainline extensions and improvements stalled during the previous quarantine restrictions.