Manila Water, Maynilad bare new rates for 2012

Water services providers Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. said Friday they will raise basic charges starting Jan. 1, 2012, as approved by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

Manila Water corporate communications chief Jeric T. Sevilla said  the purpose of the lifeline rate is to help  low-income households, such as informal settlers, in areas identified in the company’s concession.

The lifeline rate for low income families enjoy a 40 percent discount, so those without sewerage services will pay P80.61 monthly (from P72.45) compared to the regular 10 cubic meters consumer, whose monthly bill will be P135.48, whether they enjoy sewerage service or not.

“This is to ensure that the real low-income households benefit from this discount,” Sevilla said.

“Before, we defined lifeline customers as those consuming 10 cubic meters or less. We found out that there are also many who are well-off who consume less than 10 cu m (ex. rich people who have condominiums, which, when vacant, consume less than 10 cu m.”

The regular 10 cu m consumer will still enjoy minimal rates but not the discount given to lifeline consumers.

The water bills of residential customers consuming 20 cu m shall increase to P298.70 per month from P266.73.

Those consuming 30 cu m per month, which make up the majority of customers, will see an increase  of P608.32 per month from P542.94. Households consuming 50 cu m will pay P1,325.58 per month compared to     P1,182.84 they are paying now.

Maynilad  said it has tried to ease the impact by also agreeing to a one-time tariff reduction of P1/cu m of water consumed for all its customers.

“In effect, Maynilad lifeline residential customers, or those who consume 10 cu m or less of water a month, and are not connected to the company’s sewer line will pay only P107.18, instead of P117.18,” it said. “Unsewered, residential customers who consume 30 cu m of water a month will pay only P802.42, instead of P832.42.”