(UPDATED) The board of directors of the Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) has agreed to cut in half the P270 minimum rate for every 10 cubic meters of water while there is a crisis in the supply.
PPCWD general manager Antonio Jesus Romansanta said the scheme is going to be temporary and only for residents of the villages that are affected by the water crisis.
“Ngayon, we will be implementing the split minimum rate. Kapag less than five [cubic meters] ang konsumo mo, less ang bayad mo mga P135 lang. Kapag umakyat ng six that will be additional kung magkano per cubic ang babayaran, di kayo magbabayad ng 10, kung talagang wala kang tubig, ‘wag ka na magbayad, wala ka namang tubig,” Romasanta pointed out during the PPCWD Crisis Alert Forum on Friday, March 22.
He said residents living in high areas in the city that have “low water pressure to no water” will be the beneficiaries of the scheme.
Ronnie Fernandez, acting assistant general manager for administration and finance of the PPCWD, said under the new rate scheme, consumers who use five cubic meters of water will be charged a fixed rate of P135 and an additional P27 for every cubic meter thereafter.
“Approve na ‘yon, sa first five [cubic meters] ay P135 na lang then kung sumobra ka doon per cubic ang dagdag na bayad. Possible na wala kang ma-consume baka temporary cut off ka na lang, putulan ka na lang muna kasi baka may makonsumo ka pang isa,” he said.
Consumers in Puerto Princesa are currently paying P270 for every 10 cubic meters of water every month.
The city is currently under a Water Crisis Alert Level 2 with many areas suffering from very low water pressure.
Fernandez said they have no plan yet to recommend the declaration of the city under a “state of calamity” because they can still supply water.
“Kasi ngayon kahit wala pa tayong alert Level 3 umaabot pa rin sa lahat ng kabahayan ang tubig. Lahat pa naman may tubig kaya lang ang iba ang mag-aantay ka sa gabi lalo na sa matataas na lugar,” he said.
 has agreed to cut in half the P270 minimum rate for every 10 cubic meters of water){kind=link}