THE ZAMBOANGA City Water District (ZCWD) is proposing to increase rates within the first quarter 2020 to fund its P5.3 billion investment program for the next 10 years, the city government said in a statement on Wednesday as it announced the schedule of public consultations for the tariff hike. The proposed new rates are P278 for the first 10 cubic meters from the current P185, and P39 for the succeeding 11-20 cubic meters from P26. “The P185 rate is applied as of to date which was proposed in 2011 and was implemented in the year 2015. Note the time difference from 2011 up to its standing implementation, 2019. The significant increase of inflation has taken its toll over the years,” ZCWD General Manager Leonardo Rey D. Vasquez is quoted in the statement. The planned investment program, Mr. Vasquez said, is composed of a “series of projects that are set to take off upon the implementation of water rates increase amounting to a total of P5.34 billion. These are backed up with detailed engineering and program of works which formed part of our preparation to the primary objective of providing sustainability of potable water supply and water security for the city.” The projects include network expansion, non-revenue water reduction, additional water sources, and sewerage and sanitation services improvement and expansion.

CONSULTATIONS
Barangay-level consultations are scheduled on Dec. 19 at the Talisayan NHS covered court in the morning and at the Cabaluay Barangay covered court in the afternoon; and Dec. 20 at the Mayor Vitaliana Agan Coliseum. ZCWD, a government-owned and controlled corporation, has also set a dialogue with the business and other related sectors on Jan. 8; government agencies, local officials, urban poor associations and other sectors on Jan. 9; and for the general public on Jan. 16 at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR