The Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) disclosed that at least 63% of the consumers are in favor of the proposed water rate hike following their series of public consultations.
The City Mayor, Maria Isabel Climaco-Salazar, the business and other sectors have earlier expressed oppositionĀ to the proposed increase in water rate, while ZCWD General Manager Leonardo Vasquez maintained the big percentage of consumers were in favor.
Vasquez said, during the many consultations, they distributed a small survey paper for the consumers to fill in their answer on the proposed water hike from Php 185 to Php 278 per ten cubic meters and allegedly, majority of the consumers want to pay more for water.
Most of the people understand the need for an increase in the rate of water to improve their services, Vasquez said.
Mayor Climaco-Salazar created a Technical Working Group (TWG) to be led by Vice Mayor Rommel Agan to meet the officials of the water firm with regards to the said increase.
According to Vasquez, they are still waiting for the TWG’s output to be incorporated n their documents which will be submitted to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA),
The general manager claimed, the 50 percent proposed increase in the water rates could even be lowered depending on the decision of the LWUA.
Vasquez stressed the need to increase the water rate as an assurance to better their services to the 63,000 consumers.