Deadline for water bill payments set

CUSTOMERS of Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. have until the end of August to pay their bills, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said.

The MWSS Regulatory Office said non- lifeline accounts or those whose consumption did not exceed Q0 cubic meters (m3) may settle their water bills not later than July 3Q, 2020.

On the other hand, lifeline accounts

— those who consume Q0 m3 or less — may pay their water bills until Aug. 3Q, 2020.

The MWSS also gave a grace period for the payment of bills whose due date falls within the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period, which can also be settled on an installment basis.

Meter reading and bills delivery to customers will begin on June Q.

Starting August Q, the two water firms may begin the disconnection of supply for nonpayment of ECQ bills of nonlifeline accounts and September Q for lifeline customers.

Meanwhile, Sen. President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto called on the government to provide economic assistance to small water companies “because these frontline utilities supply a basic need for which

there is no substitute.” “Kungwa lang tu big, pa a no

mag huhu ga sn gk a may ?( If there is no water, how do we wash our hands?) If water is essential to the anti-pandemic fight, then we must see to it that those who supply it are financially buoyant,” he said.

The law deferring the payment of water bills and the decision of water districts themselves to relax collection have led to cash flow problems for many of them, Recto explained.

“These districts serve small towns and rural areas which water conglomerates find too unprofitable to operate in,” he said.

Recto said the almost 600 water districts in the country serve 20 million households. The bulk of water districts are in “Category D,” with less than 3,000 connections.

“Although they are required to keep a financial reserve that can meet three months of operations, most of them do not have this cushion,” the senator said.

“We can survive without broadband, even without electricity — but water, like food, is essential for man’s existence.”

He said the various economic stimulus packages being bounced around for the consideration of Congress should include a provision “distinctly addressing what relief should be given to water districts.”

“Can their loans be refinanced? Anoangmgaposibleng kanilang service expansion?( What are the possible assistance that could be provided to ensure that their service expansion would continue?)” Recto said.