Manila Water to extend bills’ due date by 30 days

Manila Water Co. Inc. on Tuesday said it will extend the due date of payment of customers' water bills for another 30 days, in response to the month-long quarantine over the entirety of Luzon.

In an advisory, Manila Water said the extension will apply to water bills within the quarantine period, which covers March 17 to April 12.

"The welfare of our customers is our primary concern as we all work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our concern is for them not to go out and risk infection just to pay.  We encourage them to follow President’s call to stay home," said Manila Water president and chief executive officer Rene Almendras.

"[T]here is adequate and continuous water supply for all customers, except during emergency repairs and necessary maintenance activities," the company added.

In the same advisory, Manila Water said customers can also pay online and other payment channels such as GCash.

Manila Water is the east zone concessionnaire which services 23 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila and Rizal.

These include Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Marikina, and parts of Quezon City and Manila. The towns of Angono, Baras, Binangonan, Cainta, Cardona, Jalajala, Morong, Pililia, Rodriguez, Tanay, Taytay, Teresa, San Mateo and Antipolo in the province of Rizal are also part of the East Zone.

For its part, west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. said it will temporarily suspend disconnection activities amid the community quarantine.

Other companies that earlier announced a deadline extension are Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), PLDT Inc., and Globe Telecom Inc. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News