water

New Year blues: Inflation-driven water rate hikes to hound consumers

December 29, 2018

Water firms are not yet finished with squeezing higher water rates out of consumers. Advocacy group Water for the People Network (WPN) said that the most recent approval of water rate hikes for implementation this New Year shows that government prioritizes water firms’ profits over minimizing the impact of high inflation on water consumers, particularly […]

No to large dams: MWSS water security roadmap may cause more insecurity-WPN

September 26, 2018

The recent onslaught of Super Typhoon Ompong triggered the release of waters from big Luzon dams and caused flooding in low-lying areas. Water rights group Water for the People Network (WPN) said that because of this and other harmful effects on communities and livelihoods, the government should shift away from building large dams to more […]

Rate hike for Maynilad customers approved: Looming increase in water rates to burden consumers more

September 14, 2018

Amid soaring prices, the MWSS Board of Trustees has given the nod to higher water rates for Maynilad Water Systems Inc. This and impending Manila Water Company, Inc. rate increases are bound to burden consumers anew, said water rights group Water for the People Network (WPN). WPN urged the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office […]

WPN presses MWSS: Show us the numbers

June 29, 2018

The Water for the People Network (WPN) is dismayed that the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System – Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) would not readily reveal the numbers involving water companies’ petitions for tariff increases in public consultations that the MWSS-RO itself convened this week. The group said that by doing so, the government agency effectively hindered […]

MWSS urged: Conduct proper consultation, uphold transparency

June 29, 2018

Dissatisfied with the nature of the fourth rate rebasing public consultation held Wednesday, consumer network Samahan at Ugnayan ng mga Konsyumer para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (SUKI) urged the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) to conduct a genuine consultation and exercise in transparency in presenting the data used to justify the proposed […]

Stop rate rebasing until onerous fees resolved – WPN

June 25, 2018

Advocacy group Water for the People Network (WPN) is appealing to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System – Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) to halt the ongoing rate rebasing process that is expected to raise water rates in Metro Manila and its environs, saying the basis for determining future water rates remains unresolved. Concessionaires Maynilad and Manila […]

2018 prosperity by Duterte policies not for all—IBON

January 2, 2018

Admin’s avid push for market-driven measures will run over the poor majority The new year seems to usher in more difficulties for Filipinos in accessing basic goods, public utilities, and services amid government’s exclusionary policies, research group IBON said. The market-driven policies that have been prioritized by the Duterte government such as the Tax Reform […]

Consumers to pay big business, foreign firms’ income tax under Duterte bill

October 20, 2017

By Arnold Padilla (Released at the launch of consumer network Samahan at Ugnayan ng Konsyumer para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (SUKI)) When President Rodrigo Duterte told striking jeepney drivers and operators “Magtiis kayo sa hirap at gutom”, he could be as well speaking to all poor Filipinos who struggle with ever-rising cost of electricity, water and […]