Maynilad’s ‘lifeline’ customers to get rebates in May bill; total at P10.81 million

Some 167,500 “lifeline” customers of west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. are set to be given a rebate in their May 2023 water bill, following the service interruptions reported due to the reduced production of its Putatan Water Treatment Plants.

In an advisory, Maynilad said it estimates the total rebates to amount to P10.81 million, covering lifeline customers or those who consume less than 10 cubic meters (cu.m.) per month in Cavite, Las Piñas, parts of Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay.

“Maynilad is giving the rebate in consideration of ‘lifeline’ customers who were constrained to pay a minimum charge through they were not able to consume a full 10 cu.m. given the service interruptions affecting their area,” it said.

The rebates will be equivalent to the cost of the unused portion of their minimum consumption and will vary depending on the customers' actual consumption below the 10 cu.m., meaning that customers who only consumed 1 cu.m. in March will be entitled to a rebate of 9 cu.m. or P121.98.

Maynilad in January said maintenance activities are ongoing in its water treatment plants in Putatan, Muntinlupa, but noted that the full 300-million liters per day (MLD) output is “just enough” for the requirements of its customers in the area which is why reduction due to maintenance activities are immediately felt.

The company aims to provide uninterrupted water services with normal pressure to 88% of its customers by the end of 2023, and to all its customers by 2027.

To recall, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) in January penalized Maynilad P27.477 million for customers affected by service interruptions in the prior months.

An earlier investigation of the MWSS-RO found that Maynilad violated its service obligation of an uninterrupted 24-hour supply in areas served by the Putatan Water Treatment Plants (PWTPs).

The MWSS last September also slapped Maynilad with a P9.264-million fine for “unusual and prolonged” service interruptions experienced by customers from May to July 2022.

It also penalized Maynilad in February 2022 for unusual and prolonged service interruptions within the PWTP supply zone, equivalent to a rebate of P323 in the April bill that year.

The concessionaire last February also reported at least 57 hours of water service interruptions due to a major leak on its primary line in Makati.

Maynilad currently serves customers in the west zone, which covers the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon, Valenzuela. It also services certain areas in Cavite such as the cities of Bacoor, Cavite, and Imus; and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario. — BM, GMA Integrated News