THE MWSS-Regulatory Office and Maynilad conducted a series of public consultations in key cities and municipalities throughout the West Concession to get directly from customers their concerns and suggestions on how to improve water service.
The public consultations, held alternately with walk-the-line activities from January 21 to March 6, 2008, were carried out to ascertain the needs and concerns of Maynilad customers that could be inputted in the company's Business Plan for the years 2009 to 2012.
Participants to the event include residents, officers of homeowners associations, non-government organizations, and local government officials from city mayors to barangay leaders.
The consultation provided a venue for residents, LGUs and NGOs to air their views and complaints about issues such as water availability and quality, billing, road excavations and pipe leaks.
Huge capital investments
Maynilad president Rogelio Singson discussed before attendees the objective of new owners, DM Consunji Inc. and Metro Pacific Corporation, to provide the West Concession with 24-hour water supply at 7 psi. through the implementation of its Capital Investment Program.
This, he said, is the reason why Maynilad has been investing heavily on pipe network improvement. “Last year we started the program, we spent P5 billion for Capital Investments, and this year we will spend an additional approximately P8 billion. So this is, in terms of Capital Investments, unprecedented as far as the West Concession is concerned.”
Special tariff for the poor
Singson also revealed that Maynilad is now advocating for a policy decision from MWSS to charge lower tariff rates for the poor. In this way, Maynilad can become more socially responsive to this sector of society.
“We have to recognize, especially in the West Concession area, that we have a huge number of consumers who really belong to poor and depressed communities. And therefore, we should not treat them the same way that we treat all of our other regular customers,” Singson pointed out. “We just need to be able to identify who will qualify under this socialized bracket.”
He also said that Maynilad could better serve the socialized sector with the help of NGOs, which have direct ties with communities that are in need of access to water service.
Participants expressed their gratitude to Maynilad for informing the public about its plans and projects, claiming that such consultations will ensure better cooperation among all sectors.
