AROUND 35,000 households in Cebu City with low water consumption have more reasons to conserve water as the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has approved a resolution allowing the Cebu City Government to subsidize the monthly bills.
Households that consume only up to 10 cubic meters of water a month will no longer have to pay while those that use up to 30 cubic meters will pay only the basic rate.
The Cebu City Government will pay for monthly consumption of up to 10 cubic meters, currently set at P152, and subsidize water bills for up to 30 cubic meters.
MCWD chairman Jose Daluz III said the Cebu City Government will set aside P200 million for this water subsidy program, which will be implemented from July to December 2021, after the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
Daluz said around 35,000 consumers of MCWD in Cebu City have water consumption of less than 10 cubic meters.
“With this, instead of 35,000 consumers going to MCWD to pay, we only have one customer, which is the City Government,” Daluz said.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said this is the City Government’s way of helping its constituents amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Daluz said the P200 million can be sourced from the annual budget for 2022. The utility will use the amount for the development of surface water sources for Cebu City.
The MCWD is eyeing the Mangasang Falls in Brgy. Tagbao, which has the potential to produce around 200,000 cubic meters, and Budlaan Falls in Barangay Budlaan as new sources of water in Cebu City.
Officials believe the water subsidy program will motivate the consumers to conserve water since they have to keep consumption low to be able to avail themselves of the subsidy.
Daluz, a former councilor, recalled that when Labella appointed him to the top post at MCWD, the mayor had asked him to provide a subsidy program for Cebu City residents.
Daluz took his oath as MCWD chairman in February 2020. (JJL)