THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is now just waiting for the approval of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) so that it can implement its proposed 60 percent water tariff increase by July 1, 2023.
Despite the impending increase, the government-owned and -controlled utility claims that it is still offering the cheapest charges in the entire country.
The effect of the tariff increase will only be “minimal and reasonable” to the consumers, MCWD Corporate Planning Department acting manager John Macabinta said during the “Kapihan sa PIA” Wednesday, March 15, 2023.
Macabinta said the estimated increase per household would only be around P80 to P180 per month depending on the consumption rate. Currently, the MCWD charges P15.20 per cubic meter for the first 10 cubic meters in a month.
Macabinta said the proposed increase will now cover the expenses of MCWD’s ongoing projects and signed contracts for upcoming projects that will help improve the water district’s services.
“Our request for adjustment is not immediate, not easy... What they will look at is what you are producing now or will spend on, plus the contracts you have already signed,” said Macabinta.
He added that the MCWD has not increased its water tariff for the last seven years so they hope that the LWUA will approve their request.
MCWD information officer Minerva Gerodias told SunStar Cebu Thursday, March 16, that all public hearings across all local government units served by the water district were already accomplished last year.
MCWD supplies water to the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and the towns of Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan and Compostela.
The last time MCWD implemented an increase was in 2015, and an increase was supposed to happen in 2020 but the water district opted not to impose this due to the coronavirus disease pandemic, Gerodias said.
MCWD Customer Care Division manager John Dx Lapid also said the increase is necessary since MCWD is not receiving a budget or subsidy from the national government.
In 2021, MCWD’s capital expenditure was around P492 million, while its operating expenses were at P1.97 billion.
Lapid said all the funds needed to run the water district are sourced from the revenue it generates.