(PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Maynilad Water Company Inc. (Maynilad) on Thursday said it will abide by the decision of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office penalizing them for service interruptions from May to July this year.
The MWSSRO on Wednesday imposed more than PHP9 million worth of penalty to Maynilad in connection with the "prolonged" and "recurring" service interruptions from May to July this year in the southern part of the West Concession Area.
It said the penalty will be paid by Maynilad in the form of bill rebates to affected customers by November this year.
“Maynilad will abide by the decision of the MWSS Regulatory Office to pay a financial penalty for the water service interruptions that affected the southern part of our concession from May to July 2022, which occurred after an algal bloom in Laguna Lake hampered the water production of our Putatan Water Treatment Plants (PWTP),” the Maynilad said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency on Thursday afternoon.
The water company said its ability to provide uninterrupted water service was hampered by the unprecedented extent of the algal bloom.
“Our ability to provide uninterrupted water service during the period was severely hampered by the unprecedented extent of the raw water quality in Laguna Lake,” Maynilad said.
“Algal bloom is beyond our control, being a product of both natural and industrial causes,” it added.
The water company assured the public that it constantly invests in treatment upgrades for the PWTP.
“Maynilad has been constantly investing in treatment upgrades for PWTP, and while this has helped to improve our capacity to maintain water production despite major shifts in raw water quality, the ultimate solution would be to protect Laguna Lake from further degradation,” Maynilad said.
The company assurances the public that it will continue to work with all Laguna Lake stakeholders to protect their long-term source of drinking water.
“We continue to work closely with all Laguna Lake stakeholders to ensure that it is protected so that the lake’s potential as a long-term supply source for drinking water can be fully realized,” it said. (PNA)
