MCWD urged to suspend rate hike

Local

A CALL to delay the latest increase in water rates is gaining ground at City Hall.

Councilor Winston Pepito has urged a temporary halt to the Metropolitan Cebu Water District’s (MCWD) 10 percent hike now in effect.

Pepito backed the appeal through a resolution approved by the Cebu City Council on April 7, seeking to suspend the rate adjustment that began on April 1, 2026, and to open the door for broader public discussion.

At the center of the measure is a basic premise: water, the councilor stressed, is not optional.

In the resolution, Pepito stated that water is “an essential basic service indispensable to the daily survival, health, and well-being of the people.”

He warned that any increase in rates inevitably ripples across households, small businesses, and other consumers served by MCWD.

The water district earlier said the 10 percent increase forms part of the final tranche of an adjustment authorized by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

The added revenue is meant to support infrastructure upgrades and offset rising costs, particularly the purchase of bulk water from private suppliers, as MCWD works to stabilize and improve service delivery.

But for Pepito, the timing raises concern.

He pointed to prevailing economic pressures that continue to weigh on families.

He also noted that the added expense could “deepen the strain” on already tight household budgets.

“A temporary postponement of the rate increase would provide much-needed relief to consumers and allow sufficient time for the public to adjust financially,” the resolution stated.

Beyond the pause, the measure also encourages MCWD to engage stakeholders, review the economic impact of the increase, and consider possible steps to ease its effect on consumers.

The resolution has been transmitted to relevant offices for appropriate action.

As of this writing, MCWD has not issued an official response to the council’s request.(TGP)