Households served by Manila Water Company and Maynilad Water Services will face higher water bills from April to June 2026 following approval from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to implement adjustments linked to foreign currency fluctuations.
MWSS-Regulator Office chief Patrick Ty said the board approved the second-quarter Foreign Currency Differential Adjustment after reviewing the submissions from both concessionaires.
The FCDA allows water companies to recover losses or return gains caused by changes in foreign exchange rates. It applies to foreign currency loans used to fund the development and improvement of water and sewer systems.
Ty noted the measure prevents over recovery or under recovery of costs due to currency variations, ensuring the utilities remain financially balanced.
For Manila Water, the second-quarter FCDA was set at 0.76 percent, equivalent to Php 0.39 per cubic meter, slightly higher than the previous quarter’s Php 0.35 per cubic meter. This adjustment adds roughly Php 0.14, Php 0.29, and Php 0.58 per month for households consuming 10, 20, and 30 cubic meters, respectively.
Maynilad’s rate adjustment increased the FCDA from Php 0.13 to Php 0.22 per cubic meter, translating to additional monthly costs of Php 0.27, Php 1.00, and Php 2.07 for customers using 10, 20, and 30 cubic meters of water.
Ty urged low-income households to register for the Enhanced Lifeline Program, which exempts qualified users from the FCDA and provides reduced water rates for families consuming up to 20 cubic meters, including beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
The program is designed to protect vulnerable communities from sudden rate hikes while ensuring continued access to safe and affordable water services.
