THE Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) will charge consumers based on the actual water consumption effective this September.
Baciwa Director Dave Villanueva confirmed this Thursday, September 29, after the Board approved the new policy during their meeting on September 27.
“The new policy will be reflected in the October billing. It would be advantageous to the consumers,” Villanueva said.
The present socialized water rate of Baciwa is at P20.80 per cubic meter.
The new policy will replace the existing one which is based on the first 10 cubic meters at the minimum of P208 no matter if the water consumed is below 10 cubic meters.
“This new policy rate is in response to the clamor and complaints of consumers despite the present situation of the water district,” Villanueva said.
Meanwhile, Villanueva considered as premature the public hearing set next week by the City Council committee on energy on the unsolicited proposal of MetroPac Water Investments Corp. (MWIC) for a joint venture with Baciwa.
“We have not yet given our decision on the unsolicited proposal. Unsolicited or solicited proposals are allowed by the law,” he said.
He added that they created an ad hoc committee that will study the impact of the unsolicited proposal to the operation and the employees of the water district.
The water district under the law has 60 days to decide on the unsolicited proposal, which Baciwa received on September 16.
