Photo credit: MWSS Regulatory Office

Hey everyone! Just a heads-up for all Maynilad and Manila Water consumers out there: you might notice some changes in your water bills come October. This is due to a mechanism called the Foreign Currency Differential Adjustment (FCDA), which could either increase or decrease your water charges.

Here’s the deal: The FCDA is essentially a way to adjust your water bills based on the exchange rate between the Philippine peso and the US dollar. If the peso weakens against the dollar, you might see a bump in your bill. On the flip side, if the peso strengthens, your bill might go down. This adjustment aims to balance out the impact of currency fluctuations on your water rates.

Patrick Lester Ty, Chief Regulator at MWSS Regulatory Office, explains, "This will not automatically result in an increase in the water bill. It can also result in a rollback. If the peso is stronger, it might cause a reduction in the water bill."

Maynilad has already submitted a proposal for an FCDA adjustment, while Manila Water is still waiting for the MWSS to finalize the guidelines. However, don’t worry too much if you’re a light water user—those consuming 10 cubic meters or less each month won’t feel any extra charges.