Metro water rates to go up next year

MANILA, Philippines - Beginning Jan. 1, Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Inc. will increase water rates to adjust to inflation and foreign exchange rates.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has approved the actions of the two Metro Manila water concessionaires.

Every five years, the concessionaires file business plans for approval of the MWSS. These plans contain the tariff rates imposed on customers, as well as service and investment.

Their allotted capital expenditure influences rate increases for water services in proportion to their net income.

Also considered are: current inflation levels; foreign exchange adjustments affecting the companies’ outstanding foreign-denominated obligations; and extraordinary price adjustments applicable during the enactment of a law affecting the firms’ cash flow or force majeure resulting in additional expenditures not covered by insurance.

Beginning Jan. 1, the average all-in charge of Maynilad will rise by 2.8 percent, equivalent to P1.26 per cubic meter (cu.m) for unsewered customers and P1.47 for sewered customers.

Water charges of unsewered residential customers consuming 30 cu.m. per month will increase from P828.72 to P851.24. Those consuming 20 cu.m. a month will increase from P413.25 to P424.22.

Maynilad’s one-time discount of one peso per cu.m. for lifeline customers will expire this year. As a result, the monthly water fees of unsewered residential customers consuming 10 cu.m. or less will increase from P106.71 to P119.62.

Data that Manila Water released yesterday showed that the monthly water charges of lifeline consumers or those consuming 10 cubic meters and below will rise by three percent to P83.14 from the current P80.61.

Regular 10 cu. m. residential consumers will see a one percent increase in their monthly water bill to P139.11 from the current charge of P137.82.

Customers consuming 20 cu. m. will be charged P306.72 monthly from the current charge of P303.90.

Those consuming 30 cu. m. monthly will be charged P624.67 in 2013 from the current P618.94. Those consuming 50 cu. m., on the other hand, will be charged P1,361.26 monthly in 2013 from the present P1,348.74.

Maynilad serves Manila, except portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana, Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the districts of the Holy Spirit and Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Highway), the cities of Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, in Cavite.