MANILA-- Consumers can expect higher water rates starting January 2025 as concessionaires implement the third tranche of the 5-year staggered rate adjustment which started last 2022.

Based on the presentation of the MWSS regulatory office last 2022, the scheduled increase beginning January 2025 is P2.12/cubic meter for Maynilad and P3.25/cubic meter for Manila Water.

However, this does not yet include the computation for inflation, so it is the figure that will be presented to the MWSS board for approval.

Maynilad said it has completed several projects for 2024 and deserves to get the 3rd tranche of increase to finance other projects slated for 2025 and also to pay debts incurred in completing past projects.

Manila Water meanwhile said the company was also on track with its commitment for 2024, and that it is crucial for the company to get the third tranche of the rate hike to continue its service enhancements.

FCDA LIKELY DOWN

With higher rates come January, the quarterly foreign currency differential adjustment will also be implemented.

But MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty says the FCDA that will be reflected come January 2025 appears to be lower than the previous quarter.

The regulator is catching up in the FCDA implementation as it was stopped years back and only resumed this year.

According to Ty, the recent weakening of peso against the US dollar is not yet included in the computation, so consumers are likely to feel a lower FCDA than the previous quarter.