Maynilad bags ISO for IT services

MANILA, Philippines - Water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. announced yesterday that it has received an ISO certification for its Information Technology Services (ITS) Division, making it the first water company in the Philippines to gain the ISO/IEC 2000-1:2011.

Awarded by TUVRheinland Philippines Inc., the ISO/IEC 2000-1:2011 verifies that Maynilad meets international standards for IT service management systems. The certification is also the water company’s 106th ISO certification to date.

Maynilad’s ITS Division is in charge of developing system analytics and program development solutions, business intelligent solutions, as well as services for networks and computing resources.

“The certification of our ITS Division is proof of Maynilad’s drive towards improving operational efficiency and its commitment to service excellence,” said Maynilad president and CEO Ricky P. Vargas.

In 2015, Maynilad allotted P163 million of its operations support budget for IT programs, including the acquisition of mobility systems hardware, central SCADA software, and other system updates. These initiatives ensure better water supply management and quicker response to customer concerns.

Maynilad is the concessionaire for the west zone of the Greater Manila Area, composed of the cities of Manila (certain portions), Quezon City (certain portions), Makati (certain portions), Caloocan, Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; Cavite City, and the towns of Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite province.

Maynilad is currently working out with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) a staggered implementation of the increase in its basic charge as awarded post-arbitration.

Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), that facilitated the arbitration proceedings between MWSS and Maynilad, ruled in favor of an increase in the water firm’s base water rate.

In a decision dated Dec. 29, the ICC appeals panel upheld its alternative rate rebasing adjustment which would result to a 9.8 percent increase in the 2013 average basic water charge of P31.28 per cubic meter inclusive of the P1 currency exchange rate adjustment that the MWSS incorporated into the basic charge. This translates to an average increase of P3.06 per cubic meter in Maynilad’s basic charge.

In coming up with an alternative business proposal during the arbitration process, Maynilad opted to no longer pursue several water sourcing projects but maintained that it would be able to fulfill its obligations within its concession area.

Maynilad aims to implement the rate hike in three equal tranches beginning this year so as to minimize the impact of the increase on consumers.