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Water rate hike: untimely and unjustified - KMU
Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today opposed the upcoming water rate hike planned by the Manila Waters Corporation and regarded it as unjustified and ill-timed.
“We reject this water rate hike bid poised by Manila Waters. It is not suitable for Manila Waters to increase water rates at this time. Many customers are still waiting for their refund from the Manila Electric Company (Meralco). Consumers have yet to recover from the high electricity rates collected by Meralco and the damaging effects of the Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA) cost that financially burdened the public for so many years,” said KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod.
“We urge consumers groups and customers of Manila Waters to carry out the widest opposition possible to stop this onerous water rate hike plan.”
Executives of the Ayala-owned water concessionaire argued that they badly needed the increase to prevent bankruptcy and to provide better services to consumers. “High cost of services does not automatically mean better services. The current sky-high costs of public utilities should warn us of the adverse effects of putting basic services into the private sector. We are now paying the high costs of privatization.”
Maglunsod, on the other hand, stressed that the upcoming increase amounting to P5.33 for every 30 cubic meter, is too much to bear for ordinary consumers especially workers.
“This planned increase is totally unacceptable for us. It is unfair that while private utility giants like Manila Waters, Meralco, Maynilad and PLDT are given every opportunity to increase their rates, employers, together with the government, always deprive workers their much needed salary and wage hikes. How can these companies expect ordinary wage earners to cope with the increasing cost of public utilities? Daily minimum wages are still pegged at P250. The government refuses to give any significant salary increase by rejecting our demand for a P125 daily wage hike. Workers are even burdened with persistent labor woes such as contractualization and various unfair labor practices,” Maglunsod said.
The labor group said they are planning to hold protests against the water rate increase that will take effect on October 7.