‘Water rate hike may affect chances of Team PNoy bets’

MANILA, Philippines - A party-list representative warned President Aquino Friday that increasing water rates at this time could hurt the chances of his Team PNoy senatorial candidates in the May 13 elections.

Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said the government should reject the rate increase petitions filed by Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Corp., the two state-regulated water concessionaires in Metro Manila.

“Approval of this unjustified water hike petition could be the most potent poison the administration can give its candidates for them to commit political suicide,” she said.

Herrera-Dy said the petitions followed the increase late last year, which the government regulator, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO), approved.

“The regulator should either turn down or sit on the proposed increases until the two water concessionaries are able to fully refund to their customers the more than P1 billion in charges collected for supply improvement projects that were later abandoned,” she added.

Herrera-Dy urged MWSS-RO to “take advantage of this opportunity to serve the interest of the public in getting their money back and in keeping water rates at least at their present levels.”

She noted that in the case of electricity, the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) has rejected a petition that would have increased rates by more than P3 per kilowatt-hour.

Maynilad has petitioned for an adjustment of P10.30 per cubic meter, while Manila Water has asked for an additional P5.83 per cubic meter.