Maynilad Slapped with Penalty for Lengthy Service Interruptions

Maynilad Water Services Inc. is expected to be fined by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office for its continued service interruptions over the past couple of months which have been dubbed “unusual and prolonged.” Maynilad had previously committed to supplying 24 hours of uninterrupted water at 7 pounds per square inch (psi) minimum pressure, but it has failed to deliver.

“Customers within the PWTP (Putatan Water Treatment Plant) Supply Zone were found to have been deprived of water service obligations for at least 15 days, which adversely impacted their health and welfare,” said Chief Regulatory Patrick Lester Ty. Since December 2021, water service interruptions have been implemented primarily due to issues with Maynilad’s PWTP affecting water production.

These problems were expected to be addressed by the company come February 15, but the Putatan Plant is yet to return to 100% capacity. Hence, “the MWSS RO is set to implement the financial penalty in the form of bill rebates to affected Maynilad customers within the PWTP’s Supply Zone by April,” added Ty. “It is already in the process of identifying all accounts that will be covered by the Rebate program, the rebate amount for each account, and the policies and procedures for carrying out the Program, in coordination with Maynilad.”

According to Ty, Maynilad has been persistent in contesting the MWSS RO’s decision. “They were disputing our findings and they were saying that the cost is because of the water quality in Laguna Lake, but our finding is that it is within the designed parameters of the PWTP, so their excuse is not acceptable that’s why we are penalizing them.”

However, Maynilad had already issued a statement regarding its compliance with the penalty. “Maynilad will abide by the MWSS Regulatory Office’s decision to impose a penalty for the service interruptions in the southern part of our concession, which happened after the combined effect of algal blooms and prolonged turbidity in Laguna Lake hampered the water production of our Putatan Treatment Plants.”

“We wish to inform the public that our water service in the south has already been ramping up over the last few days following improvements in the turbidity level of Laguna Lake and our treatment process interventions; hence, most of the affected customers now have uninterrupted supply,” added Maynilad.

Source: GMA News