The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) conducted a series of Pre-Rate Rebasing Public Consultations from September to November 2016 with representatives from various cities and municipalities to gather valuable inputs with respect to current and future land use and development plans within the MWSS service area.

Experts and officials responsible for the land use and development plan within each city or municipality participated in the Public Consultations. Their involvement in this process provided an opportunity to discuss and formulate a water and wastewater masterplan that is responsive to the specific needs and priorities of each city or municipality. Also present were local government officials, head of Engineering and Planning Departments of the respective cities or municipalities.

Spearheaded by the MWSS RO’s Public Information Department, the Public Consultations were recorded and documented for future reference. At the end of the exercise, the concerns raised were consolidated and, if feasible, will be incorporated in the Concessionaires’ five-year business plan to be submitted to the MWSS RO for approval prior to implementation.

The Public Consultations began with a presentation from the MWSS RO Chief Regulator, Dr. Joel C. Yu, to clarify the objectives of the activity. In his presentation, Chief Regulator Yu identified the objectives of the Public Consultations: to inform the LGUs on the completed/ongoing projects and the plans of the MWSS Concessionaires; to solicit inputs from LGUs which may be incorporated in the Business Plans of the MWSS Concessionaires; and to align/harmonize/synchronize the plans of the LGUs with the Business Plans of the MWSS Concessionaires. The respective Concessionaires then presented an update on ongoing projects and future plans within the locality.

Every Public Consultation was followed by an open forum where officials of the MWSS RO and the Concessionaires made sure that every query was clarified and addressed.

In the East Zone, the Pre-Rate Rebasing Public Consultations were held in San Juan, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Pateros, and the Province of Rizal (Angono, Cainta, Taytay, Tanay, Jala-Jala, Antipolo, Baras, Cardona, Binangonan, and Pililla).

In the West Zone, the Public Consultations were held in Malabon, Caloocan, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and Cavite for the covered areas of Kawit, Imus, Rosario, Bacoor, Noveleta, and Cavite City.