ILOILO – Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) is increasing its water rate?
No problem, according to Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Domingo Oso Jr. But MIWD must improve its service, he stressed.
Aside from Iloilo City, MIWD is servicing seven towns in Iloilo province – Cabatuan, Oton, Santa Barbara, Pavia, Leganes, San Miguel, and Maasin.
Oso, chairperson of the SP committee on transportation, communication and public utilities, recently organized a public consultation on MIWD’s proposed water rate increase – P200 per 10 cubic meters of water (or P20 per cubic meter of water) from the current P159 per 10 cubic meters of water (or P15.90 per cubic meter of water).
“We were quite satisfied with MIWD’s explanation for seeking a rate increase,” said Oso.
The last time MIWD increased its rate was in 2004, according to MIWD water rate committee chairperson Amarylis Josephine Castro during the public consultation.
During the intervening years, operating expenses escalated due to inflation, said Castro.
With rising costs, MIWD is finding it difficult to effectively sustain its operation, she stressed.
For Oso, the 26-percent proposed increase is “tama man ka-reasonable.”
“But MIWD must make sure it has more than enough water supply para wala sang intermittent service,” said Oso.
For his part, Ramy Madero, municipal budget officer of Pavia who attended the public consultation, said MIWD must endeavor to lower its non-revenue water or losses due to, among others, leaks and pilferage.
MIWD placed its non-revenue water at 46 percent.
“Nga-a kadaku sang tubig nga naga-uyang,” asked Madero.
On the other hand, Atty. Maria Gel Christine Palma, public information officer of the local government of Oton, said MIWD must make sure the good quality of its water./PN
