Water rates up in August
Water rates will go up next month as the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) approved its concessionaires’ implementation of an increase in their foreign currency differential adjustment (FCDA) to recover foreign exchange losses incurred in the previous months.
MWSS approved Maynilad Water Services Inc.’s FCDA for the third quarter equivalent to 0.80 percent of the average basic charge of P34.51 per cubic meter or P0.27 per cu.m. while that of Manila Water Co. Inc.’s is a 1.12 percent increase
or P0.28 per cu.m of the basic charge of P24.81 per cu.m.
This means Maynilad customers consuming an average of 10 cu.m. or less every month will have to pay an additional P0.13 per month while those consuming 20 cu.m. will have a P0.48 increase in their water bills.
Those using more than 30 cu.m. will experience an increase of P0.99 per month.
Meanwhile, Manila Water customers who consume up to 10 cu.m. per month will have an increase of P1.46 while those consuming an average of 20 cu.m. will have an adjustment of P3.24.
Customers using 30 cu.m. will be affected by an upward adjustment of as much as P6.61 per month.
Low-income households consuming 10 cu.m or less are exempt from the adjustment and will continue to pay only P79.81 per month.
Adjusted rates for both Maynilad and Manila Water will be effective Aug. 13.
FCDA is the tariff mechanism granted to utility companies to allow them to recover losses or give back gains arising from the fluctuating movements of the peso against other currencies as the concessionaires pay foreigndominated fees as well as loans to fund projects that will improve service for their customers.