Maynilad keeps 100% compliance with drinking water standards

MANILA, Philippines - Maynilad Water Services Inc. said yesterday it has maintained 100-percent satisfactory compliance with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) of the Department of Health (DOH) for the entire 2014.

Since 2010, Maynilad has received a 100-percent satisfactory compliance rating for water quality in its concession area.

Every month, water samples are taken from 965 different sampling points across Maynilad’s West Zone concession area — 26 more than what is required by the PNSDW. Samples are then taken to undergo strict bacteriological, physical and chemical examination to ensure that the water is safe for consumption.

“It is our mission and responsibility to ensure that the water we deliver to our customer — from our source in Bulacan all the way to Cavite — complies with government safety standards. The more than eight million people in the West Zone can rest assured that the water we provide is safe to drink,” said Maynilad president and CEO Ricky P. Vargas.

Maynilad is the first water company in the Philippines to produce a Water Safety Plan (WSP) that covers all phases of its operations — from water collection, treatment, up to the end of the pipeline.

Maynilad is the contractor of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (certain areas), Quezon City (certain areas), Makati (certain areas), 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.

Maynilad is currently working out with the 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 its 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.