MRWD: No rate hike in 2011
ROXAS CITY – There is no scheduled water rate increase in 2011, Rosemarie Marquez, interim general manager of the Metro Roxas Water District, said.
This was stated in Marquez’s letter-response to former general manager Medardo Pestaño inquiry.
Marquez said water rate increase may be needed after 2011 depending on the cash requirements of the water district after a rate review and a public hearing before its implementation.
Water rate increase in 2008 and 2009 was limited only to 10 percent, in which the latest implementation was effective January this year.
Marquez said the MRWD is financially sound and will be able to meet its operating and maintenance cost to include its mandate obligation.
Ealier, Pestaño said he will lead water concessionaires in opposing the water rate increase scheduled next year.
Pestaño organized a symposium on August 10 at West Lake Subdivision’s club house in Dayao, but the gathering did not push through after Marquez sent a letter to Pestaño clarifying the issues he raised.
The symposium’s main objective was to solicit alternatives on how to prevent water rate increase in 2011. It was supposed to start with the review of the background of the almost P1-billion MRWD expansion project, followed by the presentation of MRWD on the current situation of the water district.
In 2005, MRWD was taken over by the Local Water Utilities Administration then headed by Larry Jamora following a conflict between Pestaño and the board of directors.
The LWUA takeover had two objectives namely: to complete the expansion projects at that time to sustain the steady supply of treated water to residents and businesses in Roxas City and the municipalities of Panay, Panitan and Ivisan and; to ensure the water district’s financial viability through LWUA’s management and technical expertise.
