16 September 2021

PRESS RELEASE

MWSS RO DIRECTS THE SUSPENSION OF SERVICE DISCONNECTION ACTIVITIES IN AREAS UNDER ALERT LEVEL 5 OR GRANULAR LOCKDOWN

This is to inform the public that the MWSS Regulatory Office (RO) has required Manila Water Company, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. to suspend all service disconnection activities in areas under Alert Level 5 or areas under Granular Lockdown, until such time that the Alert Level 5 or Granular Lockdown has been lifted.

This is in light of the implementation of Alert Levels System and Granular Lockdowns in certain areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) beginning 16 September 2021, as provided for in the “Guidelines on the Pilot Implementation of Alert Levels System for COVID-19 Response in the NCR” that was issued on 13 September 2021 by the Inter-Agency Task force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

In this critical time when public health relies on access to clean, safe, and sufficient water supply, the Concessionaires have also been directed to ensure water supply availability within their Service Areas. Meanwhile, the MWSS RO enjoins the public to conserve water by using this scarce resource responsibly and intelligently.

For areas not under Alert Level 5 or Granular Lockdown, the MWSS RO encourages Manila Water and Maynilad customers to settle their Statements of Account (SOAs) in order to ensure continuity of services. As the MWSS RO has previously directed the Concessionaires to provide economic relief and consideration for customers in this difficult time of the pandemic, customers who are not able to settle their water bills may contact their Service Provider for flexible payment terms.

Rest assured that the MWSS RO will continue to proactively operationalize measures to aid customers and protect consumer welfare especially in this time of adversity.

(sgd.)

PATRICK LESTER N. TY

Chief Regulator