RESIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLDS in Metro Manila will see higher water bills in the primary quarter of 2026 because the regulator approved the speed adjustments sought by the 2 concessionaires.
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System – Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) approved a rate hike of P8.39 per cubic meter (cu.m.) for Manila Water Co., Inc. and P2.15 per cu.m. for Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
The brand new rates will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, MWSS RO Chief Regulator Patrick Lester N. Ty. told a press briefing on Monday.
Customers served by Manila Water within the east zone who devour 10 cu.m. or less will see their monthly bills go up by P29.86. Those that devour as much as 20 cu.m. and 30 cu.m., may have to pay a further P66.25 and P135.22, respectively.
Mr. Ty said the steep increase in Manila Water’s overall rate was resulting from the upper environmental charge as the corporate was capable of increase its sewer coverage.
“Since Manila Water was capable of increase their sewer coverage to 30%, they’re allowed to extend the environmental charge to 30%,” he said.
The chief regulator said that allowing the rise within the environmental charge encourages the water concessionaires to fast-track their sewerage coverage programs.
Meanwhile, Maynilad customers who use 10 cu.m. or less will see an upward adjustment of P5.06 of their monthly bills. Those that devour as much as 20 cu.m. and 30 cu.m. will see their bills increase by P19.06 and P39.04, respectively.
The tariff increase has less impact for low-income households who’re beneficiaries of the improved lifeline program of Manila Water and Maynilad.
In response to MWSS, the increases reflect changes in basic charge, tax rates, environmental charges, sewerage charge, and foreign currency differential adjustments.
The speed hike is the fourth tranche of the approved tariffs for the 2023-2027 rate rebasing period. Rate rebasing is a periodic performance review and general tariff adjustment that sets the utmost rates that the concessionaires may charge for his or her services.
Mr. Ty said that Manila Water and Maynilad are entitled to gather their fourth tranche as they were capable of comply with the required capital expenditure (capex) spending.
Manila Water and Maynilad have spent P48.56 billion and P75.06 billion respectively, that are greater than 70% of the goal spending for the 2023-2025 period.
“The MWSS RO is here to guard their interest, and we actually double-check if Manila Water and Maynilad indeed spent their capex, rollout projects and so they indeed did their projects,” he said.
“We’re here to audit and do inspections to be sure that that these are the programs which might be required, and Maynilad and Manila Water are good and efficient of their capex spending,” he added.
Mr. Ty also assured the general public that there can be “no water crisis” next yr, with the infrastructure projects that the 2 water concessionaires are implementing.
Manila Water serves the east zone network of Metro Manila, covering parts of Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Pateros, Mandaluyong, San Juan, portions of Quezon City and Manila, and several other towns in Rizal province.
Maynilad serves parts of Manila, Quezon City, and Makati, in addition to Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon. It also supplies water to the cities of Cavite, Bacoor, Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario in Cavite province.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which has a majority stake in Maynilad, is one in all three Philippine units of First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Useful Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera