Maynilad Water Services has announced that it will comply with the financial penalty slapped by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), which stemmed from the prolonged water service interruptions since late last year.
The financial penalty will come in the form of bill rebates, which will affect Maynilad customers by April, according to the MWSS.
"Maynilad will abide by the MWSS Regulatory Office's decision to impose a penalty for the service interruptions in the southern part of our concession," said Jennifer Rufo, head of the Maynilad Corporate Communications, in a statement.
Rufo explained that the interruptions were from the "combined effect of algal blooms and prolonged turbidity in Laguna Lake," which provides eight percent of Maynilad's water supply.
According to Rufo, climate and the leaching of chemical pollutants made the lake's raw water more variable and the water purification process "most challenging."
"This calls for more aggressive steps to protect the lake," Rufo said.
"We will keep working closely with all Laguna stakeholders to ensure that it is protected, and that it continues to serve as another viable, alternate long-term supply source for Metro Manila water consumers," the official added.
Raw water supply from Laguna Lake is tapped by Maynilad for its customers in the south, but recently, consumers reported water service interruptions from December last year until February last year.
MWSS said in a press briefing customers even reported deprivation of water services for at least 15 days, a failure from Maynilad on its obligation to provide uninterrupted water supply.
