ILOILO City – On Nov. 3 Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) will be increasing its water rates and this would be reflected in some 39,000 households’ / consumers’ December billing.
These are the new rates approved by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA):
* residential – P200 for the first 10 cubic meters (minimum charge at 1/2” water meter size)
* commercial / industrial – P400 for the first 10 cubic meters (minimum charge at 1/2” water meter size)
* commercial-c – P250 for the first 10 cubic meters (minimum charge at 1/2” water meter size)
* bulk / wholesale – P600 for the first 10 cubic meters (minimum charge at 1/2” water meter size)
* public faucet – P200 for the first 10 cubic meters (minimum charge at 1/2” water meter size)
The bigger the water meter size in any of the five classifications, the higher the minimum charge.
Despite the increase, however, according to Amarylis Josephine Castro, chairperson of MIWD’s Water Rates Committee, the new rates were still much lower compared to those of other water districts in the region (for the first 10 cubic meters, minimum) such as the following:
* Metro Roxas Water District – P252
* Bacolod City Water District – P208
* Metro Kalibo Water District – P205
* Dumangas-Barotac Water District – P283
* Buenavista Water District – P205
According to MIWD general manager Imelda Magsuci, LWUA approved the new rates on Oct. 19 in Board Resolution No.70, Series of 2018.
The previous minimum residential / government faucet rate was P159 (first 10 cubic meters).
The increase was necessary for MIWD to cope with its operational expenses that ballooned due to inflation, said Magsuci.
These operational expenses included fuel, electricity and salaries of employees.
“Wala kami other sources of income or revenue kundi ang water sales lang,” said Magsuci.
The last time MIWD increased its rate was 14 years ago, in 2004, she added.
Revenues from the rate increase would also be used to rehabilitate MIWD facilities such as old pipelines, said Magsuci.
MIWD will also incorporate the two percent franchise tax in the water bill.
The franchise tax, however, will be remitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Aside from Iloilo City, MIWD also serves the nearby municipalities of Pavia, Leganes, Santa Barbara, Oton, San Miguel, Cabatuan, and Maasin./PN
