Tag: Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO)

Almost 200,000 Maynilad customers based in Muntinlupa and in nearby cities and municipalities to get bill rebates

Almost 200,000 Maynilad customers based in Muntinlupa and in nearby cities and municipalities to get bill rebates

carlocarrasco

Several Maynilad customers in Muntinlupa as well as those in the nearby cities and municipalities will soon have rebates on their respective bills which the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) confirmed, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

For the newcomers reading this, there was a water shortage that affected lots of customers in Muntinlupa City months ago which led the City Government to take action. While it was announced before that Maynilad customers in Muntinlupa would get water bill rebates, this latest development is more significant as it involves almost two hundred thousand customers in the said city and in nearby areas as well.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

More than 198,000 customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. affected by the prolonged water service interruptions from December to January in Muntinlupa and nearby cities and municipalities will get rebates in their bills.

This was announced by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) on March 30 during its Public Information Drive on the rebate program for affected Maynilad customers held at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Barangay Tunasan.

The forum was attended by MWSS-RO Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty, MWSS-RO Deputy Administrator for Technical Regulation Evelyn Agustin, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Muntinlupa City Council’s Majority Floor Leader Raul Corro and representatives from Maynilad.

The MWSS-RO imposed a P63.97 million financial penalty on Maynilad due to the water service interruptions the water company implemented from December to February that affected customers serviced by its Putatan Water Treatment Plant in Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Pasay; and the cities of Bacoor, Imus and Cavite, and municipalities of Rosario and Noveleta in Cavite.

According to the MWSS-RO, it imposed the penalty on Maynilad as the company “failed to meet its Service Obligation of ensuring the availability of an uninterrupted 24 hour supply of water at seven (7) pounds per square inch (psi) minimum pressure to all connected Customers in its Service Area.”

In her presentation, MWSS-RO’s Agustin said a total of 198,315 customers of Maynilad in the affected areas will each get a bill rebate of P323 that will be reflected in their bills.

The amount of rebate was derived from dividing the P63.97 million penalty on Maynilad by the number of affected customers.

Before the amount of rebate was announced, Fresnedi said he hoped that the presentations during the forum “will clarify many issues regarding these water service interruptions.”

“The MWSS-RO is here, first and foremost, to protect your welfare,” Ty told the participants.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this newest development? Are you satisfied with the announced details? Does P323 sound like a justified amount? How much money do you spend on water every month?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Maynilad customers in Muntinlupa City to get rebates soon

Maynilad customers in Muntinlupa City to get rebates soon

carlocarrasco

It has been weeks since the City Government of Muntinlupa pressed water concessionaire Maynilad for answers over the water service disruptions that negatively affected many customers around the city. In a recent development, Maynilad customers in Muntinlupa will soon receive rebates from the company, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Customers of Maynilad Water Services in Muntinlupa will get rebates in their bills after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) found the company liable for prolonged water service interruptions (WSI).

In a statement, MWSS-RO Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty said his office will impose a financial penalty on Maynilad for the water service interruptions that happened from December 2021 to February 2022 due “to the failure of its Putatan Water Treatment Plants (PWTP).”

Maynilad has two water treatment plants in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa, which draw raw water from the Laguna Lake and uses it to supply thousands of customers in Muntinlupa and other areas.

“Based on the evidence gathered from its investigation, the MWSS RO concluded that Maynilad failed to meet its Service Obligation of ensuring the availability of an uninterrupted 24 hour supply of water at seven (7) pounds per square inch (psi) minimum pressure to all connected Customers in its Service Area. Customers within the PWTP Supply Zone were found to have been deprived of water service obligation for at least fifteen (15 days), which adversely impacted their health and welfare,” said Ty.

The water service interruptions left thousands of Maynilad customers in Muntinlupa without water for up to 18 hours a day. In some areas, there was no water service for days.

Customers complained that the water coming out of their faucets was brownish in color, making it unusable for drinking or cooking.

According to Ty, MWSS-RO will “implement the financial penalty in the form of bill rebates to affected Maynilad customers within the PWTP’s Supply Zone by April. It is already in the process of identifying all accounts that will be covered by the Rebate Program, the rebate amount for each account, and the policies and procedures for carrying out the Program, in coordination with Maynilad.”

“It targets to conduct a Public Information Drive (PIDr) to clarify the bill rebates and inform affected customers of the nature, scope, and other details of the Rebate Program in March. Updates will be posted on the MWSS RO’s official Facebook page (@MWSS.RO) Twitter account (@mwssro) and website (ro.mwss.gov.ph),” he said.

The Muntinlupa City Council’s Committee on Environment conducted a public hearing last Feb. 8 on the water service interruptions in Muntinlupa with representatives from Maynilad and MWSS-RO.

Councilor Raul Corro, majority floor leader of the City Council, commended MWSS-RO for its decision to impose a penalty on Maynilad.

“The penalty imposed against Maynilad by MWSS RO was the subject of a public hearing conducted by the Sanggunian Panglungsod of Muntinlupa. In the public hearing and in the presence of MWSS RO officials, I formally asked the regulatory body to impose the proper penalties and bill rebates to thousands of households due to its inability to comply with its contractual obligations under the concession agreement,” he said.

“I commend MWSS-RO for exercising its mandate and showing concern to thousands of suffering Maynilad customers whose plea for help triggered the conduct of the public hearing,” Corro said.

“But imposing the penalties and bill rebates are not enough. Maynilad must be able to deliver 24-hour uninterrupted supply of water per its commitment under the concession agreement and that aside from the quantity, it must also deliver quality water that is safe and healthy for human consumption and for other daily household use,” the councilor added.

Ty said MWSS-RO issued a Notice to Explain to Maynilad last Feb. 11 “for its non-adherence to the WSI schedules announced through its public advisories on the planned WSIs caused by water quality problems at the PWTP.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this newest development? If you are a Maynilad customer based in Muntinlupa, how fast do you think your rebate from the water company will come? Are you glad that the regulators rendered its decision on Maynilad?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  HavenorFantasy@twitter.com as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Maynilad pressed for answers over severe water service interruption in Muntinlupa City

Maynilad pressed for answers over severe water service interruption in Muntinlupa City

carlocarrasco

Are the councilors in your city doing their jobs on issues that affect you and your fellow citizens? In Muntinlupa City, the City Council and its members really worked as they pressed water concessionaire Maynilad for answers in a public hearing that happened very recently, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City Council held a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 8, to investigate the severe water service interruption being experienced by customers of Maynilad Water Services in Muntinlupa and other cities and municipalities.

The City Council’s Committee on Environment, chaired by Councilor Marissa Rongavilla, conducted the hearing attended by Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac, Majority Floor Leader Raul Corro, other councilors, Maynilad representatives, affected customers and Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty, head of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO).

The MWSS-RO is a government agency tasked to ensure that the provisions of the concession agreement between MWSS and Maynilad are followed.

Maynilad customers in Muntinlupa started experiencing the water supply interruption last December. The water company cited the algal bloom and turbidity of raw water in the Laguna Lake as the reasons that affected the water production at its two Putatan Water Treatment Plants in the city.

Based on Maynilad’s latest advisory, the water supply interruption will last until Feb. 15.

Thousands of Muntinlupa customers of Maynilad have been experiencing no water supply for up to 17 hours a day. They have complained that water supply resumes at midnight, forcing them to stay up late so they can store water.

Rongavilla said the main problem of Maynilad customers are the water quantity and water quality. Customers have complained that they are getting brown water from their faucets, which is unusable for drinking or cooking.

She asked Maynilad to clearly explain to the public the solutions to the water supply problem in Muntinlupa.

MWSS-RO has been investigating the water service interruption problem of Maynilad. MWSS-RO chief Ty said they will come up with their findings this month.

“MWSS-RO is looking out for the interest of the public. We are here to ensure that the public is protected,” said Ty.

He said there are options for MWSS-RO to penalize Maynilad. He said it can be a simple warning, disallowing the company’s expenses, or order Maynilad to give a rebate to its customers.

Last November, MWSS-RO penalized Maynilad and ordered it to rebate customers in Las Pinas.

Corro told Manila Bulletin that “we will await the investigation report of MWSS-RO Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty who promised to release it this February.”

“In the public hearing, we relayed the demand of the unsatisfied Maynilad customers to either declare a payment holiday or reduce the monthly bills or declare a rebate and impose penalties in accordance with the concession agreement due to lack of water supply (frequent water service interruptions) and due to poor quality of water (brownish color),” he said.

“We also asked Maynilad to ensure that the Feb. 15 deadline it has announced to resume normal supply of water shall be done and that in case they cannot comply, penalties should be imposed by MWSS-RO and that they will increase their number of water tank trucks from the present 29 to supply water in the affected areas,” added Corro.

He said, “We also put on record that the people of Muntinlupa who are customers of Maynilad are very unsatisfied with their service and consider Maynilad’s reasons for the frequent WSI as ‘unacceptable’ considering that they have been operating the Putatan Water Treatment Plant for more than a decade already.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident or if you manage a business within the city, what can you say about this latest local development? How was the quantity and quality of water you received from Maynilad this past week? If your access to water was interrupted, how bad was it? Do you think that Maynilad is hiding something?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673