MWSS orders Maynilad to explain recurring water interruptions

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) building. FILE PHOTO / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc., which serves the west zone of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, has been given a Notice to Explain after recurring water interruptions affecting consumers of the Putatan Water Treatment Plants.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) confirmed this on Thursday, saying that the MWSS is monitoring the situation with the concessionaire.

MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said in a statement that Maynilad failed to advise its consumers about the water service interruptions.

“On 29 December 2022, the MWSS RO issued a Notice to Explain (NTE) to Maynilad over the recurring water service interruptions, which have affected the customers served by the Putatan Water Treatment Plants,” Ty said.

“The NTE is about the lack of necessary public advisories and notices regarding water service interruption (WSI) schedules, the continuous extension of WSI schedules, and the surge in customer complaints received and monitored by the Office,” he added.

Ty said that if the issue persists, MWSS-RO can impose sanctions to the company, above those implemented last October 2022.

“The MWSS RO is aware of and is closely monitoring the developments of the situation. Moreover, the Office has already asked Maynilad to explain and solve the issues immediately,” he said.

“If the situation persists, the MWSS RO will not hesitate to impose another sanction on Maynilad, similar to the financial penalty implemented by the Office last October 2022.  The MWSS RO ensures that public welfare will continue to be the top priority of the Office,” he added.

This is not the first time that MWSS-RO called Maynilad’s attention over water interruptions.  Last September, the regulating agency slapped a P9 million penalty against Maynilad for prolonged water interruptions in its franchise area.

According to the MWSS-RO’s investigation, Maynilad breached its service obligation of ensuring uninterrupted water supply to customers in parts of Las Piñas City, Muntinlupa City and Parañaque City as well as Bacoor, Imus, Cavite, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite.

The said penalty covered the period from May to June in 2022.

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JPV