INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) has ordered water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. to refund excess charges collected from customers amounting to about P2.1 million covering 400,000 customers within parts of its coverage area.
The MWSS-RO said Maynilad customers in the cities of Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Malabon, Valenzuela and Quezon City will receive rebates in their water bills, to be applied in the March to June water bills of the affected Maynilad customers.
The “minor corrections” were a result of “Maynilad’s implementation of tax rates that are not in accordance with the rates approved by the MWSS Board of Trustees,” said MWSS chief regulator Patrick Lester Ty.
Maynilad’s corporate communications head Jennifer Rufo said the water service provider would comply with the RO directive, adding the local franchise tax rates initially approved were based on outdated rates.
Rufo noted that 400,000 customers will receive a rebate averaging P1.63 each, although she clarified that the actual amount will vary depending on the local franchise tax in their area, consumption, billing class and billed amount, among others. —JORDEENE B. LAGARE
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