Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Building. FILE PHOTO / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) on Wednesday directed both the Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Maynilad Water Services Inc. to implement a 30-day grace period, as well as a three-month installment payment scheme for water bills due within the heightened lockdown period.
In an MWSS order signed by chief regulator Patrick Lester Ty, it read that the directive was “In solidarity with the spirit and intentions of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2.”
A provision of Bayanihan 2 states that payment of bills covering those falling within the period of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) will have a 30-day grace period.
In line with this, the MWSS ordered the two water concessionaires to grant a 30-day grace period to customers to settle their bills falling the ECQ and MECQ period.
The MWSS also directed Manila Water and Maynilad to implement the installment scheme “for all cooperatives; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); and domestic customers after the grace period.”
“The said directives will provide customers ample time to update payments for water bills that fell due within the 4 to 18 August 2020 MECQ period without incurring interests, penalties and other charges,” the MWSS said in its order.
It was from Aug. 4 to 18 that Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna Cavite and Rizal were placed under MECQ after medical frontliners called for a “time out” to prevent the collapse of the health care system as COVID-19 cases surged.
“The MWSS [Regulatory Office] assures the public that it will do everything in its mandate to protect their welfare and provide the assistance they need to alleviate the financial burden brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the MWSS said.