Maynilad to give higher discounts to low-income customers starting Jan. 2024

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. announced on Tuesday that it will be giving higher discounts on the water bills of qualified low-income and low-consuming residential customers.

Maynilad will implement its “Enhanced Lifeline Program” starting January 1, 2024.

Under its Regular Lifeline Program, the water distribution utility is providing a 41% discount on the basic charge of “lifeline” customers—or those whose monthly consumption does not exceed 10 cubic meters.

Maynilad said that under the ELP, lifeline customers—who are also marginalized, including the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)—"can apply and qualify for a higher discount on their water bills.”

The ELP, the company said, was launched after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) “urged Maynilad to extend a discount not only to its low-consuming customers but also to its marginalized customers, as they are the ones who stand to benefit greatly from the savings that the ‘low-income lifeline rate’ will yield.”

Maynilad said customers who are qualified for the “low-income lifeline” rate can apply by submitting a completed application form, their latest water bill, and a photocopy of their 4Ps identification to any Maynilad Business Area office or Maynilad Barangay Helpdesk.

For non-4Ps beneficiaries, a local Social Welfare and Development Office certification and a photocopy of one government ID are required, it said.

Maynilad said the applications for the "low-income lifeline” rate will open on November 13, 2023.

The water concessionaire said it currently has over 320,000 “Regular Lifeline” customers, and the company expects around 60,000 “low-income lifeline” customers to apply for the higher discount under the ELP.

“There are many poor households within our concession area that can benefit from availing of the low-income lifeline rate, so we encourage all qualified customers to apply to the program,” said Maynilad customer experience and retail operations head Christopher Lichauco.

Maynilad is the concessionaire for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (certain portions), Quezon City (certain portions), Makati (west of the South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon, all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor, and Imus; and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario, all in Cavite Province. —VBL, GMA Integrated News