MANILA—And lo and behold, everything is silent in the waterfront.
Both giant water concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water, agreed Monday that water supply is sufficient and no water disconnections will be carried out while Metro Manila is under lockdown due to the enforcement of modified or enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
In two separate radio-TV interviews monitored by Saligan News, Jennifer Lupo and Jeric Sevilla, heads of corporate communications of Maynilad and Manila Water, respectively, assured that their companies would not implement any disconnection order for delinquent users within the period of the lockdown.
“Maynilad is giving another 30-day extension of water bill payment. This is aside from the 60-day grease period that we are already giving to customers before a notice of connection is issued,” Lupo said.
She also said a soft payment scheme will be discussed by their management to ensure that customers will not be burdened by the sudden surge of their accumulated water bills once the lockdown is lifted.
“Pag-uusapan pa ito sa aming board kung anong paraan ng magaang pagbabayad ng aming kustomers sa malaking bills nila pagkatapos ng lockdown,” Lupo further said.
On the other hand, Sevilla of Manila Water also echoed the position of her counterpart in Maynilad. He assured though that there will be no shortage of water supply in Metro Manila “except with some water flow interruptions for repairs and maintenance work at sa paglagay namin ng apat na water booster upang mapalakas ang pressure at makaabot sa dulo ng linya,” said Sevilla.
Sevilla further said there is no significant decrease in the volume of water in the base source, which may ensure the steady supply of water to at least until the end of the lockdown. “Wala namang nakikitang kakulangan sa tubig at napansin natin na nag-uumpisa nang umulan.”
Both Maynilad and Manila Waters suggested that customers who want to pay their bills early may use the existing on-line payment facilities, internet applications, and other alternative payment schemes that do not require physical presence to follow the “stay-at-home” guidelines of the Department of Health and local authorities because of the Covid-19 scare.
