The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) celebrates its 17 Anniversary today (1 August).
Joel C. Yu, Chief Regulator of the MWSS-RO, said that they will commemorate the event in a simple celebration highlighted by a public dialogue and a forum.
Week-long celebration will be underlined by a public dialogue with condominium and high-rise building administrators and developers from various barangays in Metro Manila to address the concerns encountered by the customers in dealing with rate classification for high-rise buildings to be held on 6 August.
Mr. Philamer Torio is also invited to speak in a forum to be held at MWSS-RO conference room on the topic “Water Privatization in Metro Manila: Assessing the State of Equitable Access to Water.”
Mr. Torio is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia and was involved in the Metro Manila water privatization in 1997.
On 1 August 1997, the MWSS-RO was created by virtue of the Concession Agreement signed between the MWSS and the two concessionaires, Manila Water Company, Inc.for the East Zone and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. for the West Zone.
The MWSS-RO is the regulatory arm of the MWSS to provide adequate, safe, reliable, and affordable water and sewerage services to Metro Manila and its existing and future coverage areas, while ensuring the sustainability of its water resources and the intelligent and right use of water.
“Over the years, the MWSS-RO has learned ample lessons in regulation. It is time to consolidate these lessons to draw insights on how the MWSS-RO can be more effective in the delivery of its mandate,” Yu said.
The MWSS-RO is preparing for the next challenges to attain flexible yet measurable approach to implement all the elements that make up the delivery of excellent customer service and to provide a blue print for building and maintaining a total organizational commitment to greater customer satisfaction.
The MWSS-RO has four regulatory areas. These are the Financial Regulation, Customer Service Regulation, Technical Regulation, and Administration and Legal Affairs. Each regulation area is headed by a Deputy Administrator, the Chief Regulator has overall supervision of the MWSS-RO.