The International Chamber of Commerce decision upholding the rate adjustment proposal of Maynilad Water Services has stirred a hornet’s nest, so to speak, with some groups vilifying the water concessionaire and calling the move another cross that would burden consumers. Lost in the din however is the fact that Maynilad — despite a two-year delay in the adjusted rates, has signified willingness to stagger the collection until 2018, or "payment by installment” to mitigate the impact to costumers, said Maynilad chief finance officer Randolph Estrellado.
Many could still remember how, prior to the privatization of the operations of MWSS, many areas such as Parañaque and Pateros had to buy their water from vendors via delivery trucks (many of them looking dirty and rusty) at very high rates, while others sourced water from deep wells that also required electricity to operate. According to a report made by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies in 1996, the year prior to the privatization, over 80 percent of households buying vended water were actually buying MWSS water indirectly for washing, bathing and other needs and also spending thousands for mineral water.
In any case, the rebasing would enable Maynilad to implement further modernization that includes sewerage coverage expansions and improvement of water pressure in households — which ultimately spells better service and supply of potable water for Metro Manila residents serviced by the concessionaire.//
