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By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, Reporter
AFTER emerging from a court-administered
rehabilitation this month, Maynilad Water Services Inc. will file
for an increase in rates next year, according to state-run
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Services (MWSS).
Lorenzo H. Jamora, MWSS administrator, said the
water distributor will file for an adjustment under the rate
re-basing scheme after its spending program for its franchise area
is resolved.
“They have to settle first some unresolved
issues, which is one of the pre-conditions for rate re-basing,”
Jamora said.
Rate re-basing is done every five years to
review the service improvement plan required to provide efficient
water and wastewater services to customers, and evaluate the
required capital investment to implement the plan. In turn, the
company’s capital expenditure will be recouped through an increase
in consumers’ bills.
Jamora said the new water rates, once approved,
will be implemented in 2009, or two years late for the rate
re-basing period of 2008 to 2012.
Maynilad, which government took over after
incurring heavy losses in the wake of the Asian financial crisis,
was sold to the DMCI-Metro Pacific consortium late last year.
The water distributor holds a 25-year exclusive
concession to provide water and other services in the West Zone of
Metro Manila covering 8 cities and 3 municipalities, as well as one
city and 5 municipalities in Cavite. The company’s network
facilities include 2 water treatment plants and 4,100 kilometers of
pipes and aqueducts.
The company has set its capital expenditure
program for next year at P8 billion.
Maynilad said in a statement that it has stepped
up efforts against water pilferage to “protect the integrity of
the water supply” in its concession. Valerio Lopez, Maynilad’s
Anti-Illegal Task Force head, said the company has uncovered 5,262
cases of illegal water activities, including bypass connections and
tampered water meters, throughout the West Zone.
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