MCWD asked to suspend rate hike

Local

WITH residents still picking up the pieces after last month’s earthquake, a Cebu City councilor is asking the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) to defer the implementation of rate hike.

The Cebu City Council, in its regular session this week, approved a resolution from Councilor Sisinio Andales urging MCWD to defer or suspend its recently implemented rate adjustment.

He cited the financial strain faced by many Cebuanos still reeling from the September 30 quake that damaged homes, displaced families, and disrupted businesses.

“Access to clean and affordable water is a basic human right and an essential public service, particularly in times of crisis and recovery,” Andales said. “Public utilities must exercise prudence and empathy in their decisions during times of hardship.”

He warned that the rate hike could “disproportionately affect” low-income earners, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and families below the poverty line — sectors already struggling to recover.

The measure calls on the MCWD Board of Directors to study the possibility of postponing the increase and asks the Office of the Mayor to support the appeal.

But MCWD defended the adjustment, saying the move was “necessary and long overdue.”

“The last adjustment took effect in January 2015, or ten years ago,” said MCWD spokesperson Minerva Gerodias in a statement on Thursday, Oct. 23.

She noted that despite the pandemic, MCWD held off on any increase in 2020 to ease the burden on consumers.

However, sustained inflation, higher electricity bills, and rising bulk water procurement costs have made it impossible to delay further.

“We fully understand the challenges faced by many Cebuanos today,” Gerodias said. “But to sustain operations and improve service delivery, adjustments have become necessary.”

She added that no opposition was raised during the required public hearing for the rate application — instead, consumers reportedly demanded a more stable and sufficient water supply.

The 12-percent increase took effect on October 1, 2025, following approval from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

For residential consumers with ½-inch meters, the minimum charge rose from ₱209.76 to ₱235.60 for the first 10 cubic meters. Higher consumption brackets were also adjusted as follows:

₱26.04 per cubic meter for 11–20 cubic meters (from ₱23.18)

₱30.64 for 21–30 cubic meters (from ₱27.28)

₱75.02 for usage above 30 cubic meters (from ₱66.79)

The adjustment, approved by LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga on September 11, 2025, was originally filed in 2022 but delayed due to procedural reviews.

MCWD said the additional revenue will help cover rising bulk water prices, which have jumped from ₱15.20 to as much as ₱76 per cubic meter, and fund infrastructure projects such as the ₱1.1-billion Lusaran Bulk Water Project serving upland barangays.

MCWD said that even after the adjustment, its rates remain “among the most affordable utilities” in Metro Cebu, about ₱0.023 per liter, or ₱0.46 for a 20-liter gallon, compared to ₱25 for bottled water, ₱13 per kilowatt-hour of electricity, or ₱600–₱1,200 a month for mobile and internet services.

The utility added that it has invested ₱2.1 billion in expansion and rehabilitation projects since 2015 and ₱12 billion for operations, including the development of desalination plants to improve supply stability during dry months.

Despite standing by the increase, MCWD said it remains open to coordination with the city government to address consumer concerns.(TGP)