DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 12 February)—The Davao City Water District (DCWD) has implemented a 20-percent increase in its rates effective this month, an official announced on Monday.
DCWD spokesperson JC Duhaylungsod at the Kapehan sa Dabaw. Photo courtesy of PIA-XI
Speaking during Kapehan sa Dabaw, DCWD spokesperson JC Duhaylungsod said that the water rate adjustment would be reflected in the bills of the consumers next month.
She said the increase was the second tranche of the 60% water rate adjustment approved by Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in July 2022.
Duhaylungsod said DCWD was supposed to implement the second tranche last year, but it was pushed back as it belatedly received the go-signal from the LWUA.
LWUA approved the proposal of the DCWD to increase water rate by 60% to raise funds to support the agency’s 10-year development program. The first 30% was imposed in August 2022.
Duhaylungsod said DCWD resorted to enforcing rate adjustments in three tranches, taking into consideration the economic conditions of the consumers reeling in from the adverse impact of COVID-19.
She said the DCWD hopes to implement the remaining 10% within the year.
Duhaylungsod added that the water rate adjustment was “long overdue,” saying there were suspensions of several projects—including infrastructure and expansion activities—when the 20% increase in water rates was not enforced.
“We are thankful that it was approved because we were really looking forward to the implementation of the 20% because its non-implementation last year meant that there were projects that we have to shelve,” she said.
Duhaylungsod said the new rate adjustment will allow DCWD to resume the implementation of projects to improve water services in the city.
She said DCWD went through “rigorous process” before it was given the green light to proceed with the enforcement of water rate increase such as public hearing and review by the LWUA.
As government-owned and controlled corporation, Duhaylungsod said that the DCWD receives no subsidy from local and national government, relying primarily on collections from water consumers to finance capital expenditures and water service improvement projects.
Last February 7, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) of the Aboitiz-led Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. which supplies the city with 300 million liters of water per day.
The bulk water supply project commenced operations on December 1, 2023, after a delay of three years in the project’s completion target. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
