Possible ‘adjustment’ in water bills eyed for affected consumers  

HOUSE PROBE Ferdinand dela Cruz (left), president and CEO of Manila Water Co., and Ramoncito Fernandez, president and CEO of Maynilad Water Services Inc., explain the water crisis situation to the House of Representatives’ Metro Manila development committee during Monday’s hearing. INQUIRER file photo / JAM STA. ROSA

MANILA, Philippines — Consumers of Manila Water Co. affected  by water  interruptions may expect “some relief” like an “adjustment” in their bills.

Ferdinand dela Cruz, president and chief executive officer of Manila Water, said he already directed his people to “explore ways to provide some relief in the water bills” during service interruptions.

“As president of Manila Water, I’ve already given instructions to my team to  explore ways to provide some relief in the water bills of your affected constituents during the period of  service interruptions,” dela Cruz said during the hearing of the  Senate committee on public services on Tuesday.

“We will discuss this with our regulator and we will update this committee on the progress of this initiative,” he said.

But when Senator Risa Hontiveros asked if Manila Water would offer a rebate to the affected customers, dela Cruz raised the possibility of adjusting the bills of those affected costumers.

“What I’ve instructed with my team is to explore ways to provide some relief to those affected and the easiest there is an adjustment on the water bill. We are looking at that,” he said.

“We will discuss this with regulator on what is reasonable and this is something that is outside the penalty system that we have discussed,” dela Cuz added.

At the start of the  hearing, committee chair, Senator Grace Poe, asked if it was possible to exempt consumers affected by the water shortage from paying their bills during the service interruptions.

“Ano ang aasahan ng ating mga kababayan? Kailan totally ma-address ang problemang ito? Are the consumers going to be compensated or will their bills be lower for this month? Or pwede bang libre muna, sa mga affected consumers?” Poe said.

Some congressmen also asked the water concessionaire during a separate probe in the House of Representatives on Monday if it would refund  inconvenienced consumers.

But the Manila Water boss told House probers: “They will still pay a minimum amount,” the CEO admitted.

“There’s no discussion yet on that because our focus is restoration of the service,” he added.

READ: Manila Water takes blame for shortage

Dela Cruz also repeated his readiness to step down from his post.

“If my resignation today will not only erase our supply deficit but also result to a united front to urgently build new water resources, then I’d be extremely happy  to resign at this moment,” he told Poe’s panel. /jpv