FILE PHOTO: A resident heeding Maynilad’s earlier advisory stocks up on water in Brgy. 283 Muella Del Industria, Binondo, Manila. RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) has ordered Maynilad to pay P9,264,358 bill rebates to customers affected by prolonged water service interruptions in southern Metro Manila and surrounding areas.
“The said penalty will be implemented in the form of bill rebates to affected Maynilad customers by November,” said MWSS RO Chief Patrick Ty in a press conference on Wednesday.
Affected customers from Las Piñas City, Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City and Cavite province (Bacoor, Imus, Cavite, Noveleta, Rosario) can avail of this rebate depending on the amount of their bill and refund.
“It’s like an overpayment, so you are entitled to consume it however you want. You can consume it within one month, you can consume it within one year. It depends on the amount of the water bill and the amount of the water rebate” Ty said.
“The nature, scope, and other details of the rebate program will be further discussed in October, during a public information drive that will be conducted by the MWSS RO, in cooperation with Maynilad,” Ty said.
When asked how many people were affected by the water service interruptions, Ty could not give an exact number yet but assured everyone who experienced the water service interruptions would have a rebate.
Service obligation breach
According to the Ty, Maynilad “was found to have breached its service obligation of ensuring the availability of an uninterrupted 24-hour supply of water at seven pounds per square inch.”
Maynilad has been notified of the fine and was able to explain the water interruptions, Ty said.
“They claimed that because of the water quality issues in the Laguna de Bay… the existing facilities or infrastructures in the Putatan Water Treatment Plant [were] not enough. So because of that, they were forced to scale down their production,” said Ty.
The MWSS RO has also ordered Maynilad to fast-track remedies “to address the deteriorating raw water quality in Laguna Lake and ensure the continuity of water supply in its service area,” said Ty.