Manila Water, Maynilad water rate increases take effect with New Year

Water service rates in the concession areas of Maynilad and Manila Water have taken effect with the New Year 2025.

According to Maki Pulido's report on " 24 Oras," residential customers of Manila Water, the approved tariff, effective January 1, would be P61.04 per cubic meter, an increase of P5.95 from the rate of P55.08 per cubic meter as of the fourth quarter of 2024.

For Maynilad, an adjustment of P7.32 per cubic meter in the tariff rate of their residential customers was also approved starting this month, bringing its all-in average water rate to P65.62 per cubic meter from P58.30 per cubic meter as of the last quarter of 2024.

Also effective on the first day of 2025, SSS contribution rates increased to 15%. Of which, 10% are employer’s share and 5% are care of employees. 

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) in December announced the approval of the increase in water service rates for its concessionaires.

MWSS-RO Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said the regulatory body took into consideration the actual capital spent by the water concessionaires for the period 2023 to 2024 in approving the water rate hikes, which would take effect in January 2025.

In particular, Ty said Manila Water spent a cumulative P32.668 billion for its water and wastewater projects for the period, accounting for 81% of its capital expenditure target.

Meanwhile, Maynilad spent 83% of its capex target for 2023-2024 amounting to P47.591 billion.

“As long as they spend a reasonable [percentage] of their capex… we will allow them to raise tariffs,” Ty said.

Meanwhile, the National Wages and Productivity Commission earlier approved the P500 and P1,000 monthly increase for household helpers in the National Capital Region and Northern Mindanao, respectively, starting January 2025.

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and other electric cooperatives have yet to make an announcement, but an increase in electricity bills is likely to happen soon after the Energy Regulatory Commission allowed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to charge its contracted reserved power in 2024. 

This means over P3 billion will be charged to the customers in the first three to six months of 2025. 

“Kapag tinaasan naman, kawawa naman kami. Maawa naman sila sa amin,” said eatery owner Marites Pabas. 

(If they increase the rates, it will burden us. I hope they will consider us.) 

Meralco earlier increased its power rate by P0.1048 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for December, bringing the overall rate for a typical household to P11.9617 per kWh from P11.8569 per kWh the previous month.

Meanwhile, motorists may also have to tighten their belts as the Toll Regulatory Board said that there are petitions on deck seeking toll fee hikes. But it did not give full details, the report said. 

If the toll fee hike pushes through, this might affect the deliveries of goods such as vegetables. 

“Siyempre tataas nang kaunti yung mga kalalakal natin dahil ipapatong natin ‘yan sa mga kalakal nating ibebenta,” said delivery driver Antonio Mesa. 

(Expect the prices of goods to also increase because the fee hike will be topped up on the prices.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News