ILOILO City – Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) has assured consumers and stakeholders that its operations remain unaffected by the nationwide fuel price increases.
Speaking at the company’s Kapehan sa Media yesterday, Chief Operating Officer Angelo David C. Berba confirmed that service delivery continues as normal, no rate adjustment is being pursued, and all cost increases are being absorbed internally.
“Our operations will continue as they are, and we will endeavor to improve. Kahit na at a loss kami mag-o-operate dahil sa fuel increase, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang aming serbisyo. Walang impending na tariff increase. In fact, our service will continue to improve with all the projects that we are implementing,” Berba said.
No application for a rate adjustment has been filed with the relevant regulatory body, and no decision has been made to file one. MPIW serves Iloilo City and seven adjacent municipalities, with field teams operating seven days a week and emergency response available 24 hours a day. Office hours remain at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Capital investments continue as planned. The company’s Modular Water Treatment Plant is expected to arrive soon, and five newly awarded projects are underway. MPIW also confirmed readiness for the summer season, with resource allocation and field response protocols already in place.
“We are absorbing this challenge internally so that our consumers do not have to. And we are doing it while continuing to build,” said Berba.
MPIW is well into the execution of projects designed to strengthen water supply and service reliability across its coverage areas. A key milestone is the HS Jaro project, forecast for completion by September to October this year, which is expected to recover at least 10MLD of supply for customers in Iloilo City.
“Our projects are meant to improve water supply and service. The HS Jaro project alone will recover at least 10MLD once it is done. That is significant, and we are moving as fast as we can to get there,” added Berba.
The urgency has not gone unrecognized. The Iloilo City Government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) both responded positively to MPIW’s requests, enabling round-the-clock operations on critical projects.
“We are very thankful to the city government and to DPWH. They understood the urgency, they responded, and because of their support, work on our projects is now running 24 hours. That kind of partnership is what moves things forward for our customers,” stated Berba.
Looking ahead, MPIW’s Modular Water Treatment Plants are being timed for deployment ahead of the El Niño season projected for next year, ensuring the company is positioned to maintain supply even under more challenging conditions./PN
