METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM
REGULATORY OFFICE
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) was created in August 1997 by virtue of the Concession Agreements signed between the MWSS and the two Concessionaires: Manila Water Company, Inc. (Manila Water) for the East Zone and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) for the West Zone. On 31 March and 18 May 2021, the Revised Concession Agreements (RCAs) with Manila Water and Maynilad were signed respectively. The RCAs extended the period of the water concession to 31 July 2037.
The MWSS RO functions as a collegial body composed of five (5) Regulators. It is headed by the Chief Regulator who has overall responsibility for the operation of the office, and four (4) Deputy Administrators for Technical Regulation, Customer Service Regulation, Financial Regulation, and Administration and Legal Affairs.
Any action or decision by the MWSS RO on substantive matters affecting the RCA requires at least a majority vote of three (3) members. The Chief Regulator chairs meetings, has the final approval over the hiring and dismissal of all professional staff, and acts as the principal spokesperson of the MWSS RO.
The MWSS RO is mandated to monitor the performance of the Concessionaires with respect to their contractual obligations under the RCAs. Among its many functions, the MWSS RO reviews, monitors and enforces rates and service standards; arranges and reports regular independent audits of the performance of the Concessionaires; and monitors the infrastructure assets.
The functions of the MWSS RO are further stated in Executive Order (EO) No. 149, S. 2021 (signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on 27 September 2021), which transfers the administrative supervision of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System from the Department of Public Works and Highways to the Office of the President; and in Republic Act Nos. 11601 and 11600 (signed by President Duterte on December 10, 2021), which grant Manila Water and Maynilad 25-year franchises to establish, operate, and maintain a waterworks system and sewerage and sanitation services in the East and West Concession Areas, respectively.
The functions of the MWSS RO may change over time for the effective regulation of water and sewerage services.