Maynilad adds 3 new distribution sites

MANILA, Philippines - West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. recently added to its service three new villages in Cavite, providing 230 more households round-the-clock water supply.

The new areas include Greenbreeze Village in Bacoor City, Lyf Homes Subdivision in Imus City and Seaview in Noveleta.

Maynilad said that prior to the connection, residents from these subdivisions extracted water from deep wells or buy water from delivery trucks.

Over-extraction of groundwater in Metro Manila and nearby areas has been known to cause land subsidence and flooding. Various health risks have also been associated with the prolonged use of untreated water from deep wells.

“We are expediting our expansion projects in the South to improve the quality of life in communities that are still dependent on deep wells,” said Maynilad president and CEO Ricky Vargas. 

Maynilad services the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres & Sta.Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the Districts of the Holy Spirit & Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabonall in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor, and Imus, the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario, all in Cavite Province. 

Maynilad recently filed a dispute notice before Paris-based  International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to challenge the recent rate rebasing done by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

Last month, the MWSS denied  Maynilad’s petition for an upward adjustment of 28.35 percent of its average basic charge equivalent to P8.58 per cubic meter , approving instead a negative adjustment of 4.82 percent equivalent to  P1.46 per cubic meter to be implemented in five equal.

The lower water rates will be implemented this month.

The ICC has yet to appoint a presiding arbitrator to the appeals panel of Maynilad.

Under the concession agreement signed by Maynilad and the MWSS, any disagreement which cannot be resolved through consultation or negotiation must be resolved through arbitration.

A three-member appeals panel will conduct the arbitration proceedings in accordance with the arbitration rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

The panel will be composed of three members: one representative appointed by Maynilad, MWSS, and the ICC  (who will be the presiding arbitrator).