East Zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. Inc. on Tuesday announced a one-time voluntary bill waiver scheme for its more than six million customers as part of the “self-imposed penalty” following the unprecedented water service interruption in its concession areas.
“We’ve been working overnight to prepare for this. We’re still apologizing for the widespread inconvenience we have caused,” Company president and chief executive officer Ferdinand dela Cruz said in a press conference.
Dela Cruz said that customers—whether domestic, lifeline, commercial and industrial users – covered by the scheme would not be charged for their first 10 cubic meters of water consumption in March.
This will be reflected in the April bills of customers in Metro Manila and Rizal, the official added.
A typical household consumes 30 cu.m per month and pays about P600.
Dela Cruz said the company was still validating its data. The company expects to come up with the list of barangays that will be considered severely hit.
Manila Water recently faced a shortage in its water supply as La Mesa Dam reached its critical level, forcing the company to implement days of supply interruption among its 1.2 million customers.
Manila Water has six million customers and provides water to 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.
At present, Dela Cruz said that 97 percent of the affected areas already have water supply, however, some with low pressure.
Photo credit: Genesis Media
