The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) conducted a public dialogue with Homeowners Associations (HOAs) from various barangays in Metro Manila and nearby provinces on June 26, 2014 at Orosa Hall, Balara Filter’s Compound, Quezon City in keeping with its mandate of ensuring that the customers within the MWSS Concession area enjoy the highest service standards.

Deputy Administrator for Customer Service Regulation Area Atty. Vincent Pepito F. Yambao, Jr. said that the public dialogue aims to discuss the problems encountered by the HOAs in the individualization of the water service connections of subdivision homeowners within the MWSS Concession area.

Recently, several letters have been filed with the MWSS-RO by HOAs requesting for the turnover of their water reticulation system and individualization of water meters, with inquiries concerning the requirement for deed of donation and acceptance of subdivision’s reticulation system, and the cost of rehabilitation of the water system.

Invited as resource persons in the public dialogue were OIC Deputy Executive Director Jorge Estioko of National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Belen Juarez, NWRB Supervising Public Utilities Regulation Officer; and David Obligacion, Homeowner Assistant, Housing Land and Urban Regulatory Board (HLURB).

Engr. Rosendo Alegre, Department Manager for Customer Service Complaints Monitoring Department (CSMD) presented the procedures for the interconnection or turnover of water reticulation system for subdivisions pursuant to Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1345, Executive Order (EO) No. 688 and RO Resolution No. 07-020-CA.

Estioko and Juarez discussed the requirement for obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience for subdivisions that are still under bulk-selling arrangement with the MWSS Concessionaires (Manila Water Company, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc.), and answered queries regarding the allowable tariff that may be imposed to homeowners.

Meanwhile, Obligacion discussed the procedures involving intra-association disputes, including issues concerning the authority of the association to enter into contract with Concessionaires.

During the discussion, Yambao clarified that while the MWSS has allowed bulk-selling arrangements between the HOAs and the Concessionaires, this should be viewed as an interim measure prior to the full individualization of water service connections within the subdivisions.

Yambao further underscored that the bulk-selling arrangement must comply with other pertinent laws and the requirements of other government agencies.

The public dialogue is part of a series of activities of the Customers Service Regulation Area in line with MWSS-Ro’s commitment with the Governance Commissions for the GOCCs (GCG) in upholding Customers Welfare and Protection Services and sustaining a total organizational commitment to greater customer satisfaction.

The event seeks to disseminate effectively the procedures and guidelines on bilk metering contracts and to increase the customer’s awareness of the MWSS approved Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) on turnover of subdivisions water reticulation system. The issues raised in the public dialogue shall be used as inputs to the ongoing review of MWSS policies

Currently, there are a total of 352 subdivisions which are still under bulk-selling arrangements with the MWSS Concessionaires.