ILOILO City — Progressive groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Panay and Gabriela women’s party-list have denounced the planned 43-percent water rate increase to be implemented here and neighboring municipalities, calling it “unjust and anti-people” amid continued complaints of poor water service.
A water concessionaire in this city announced that rates will rise from P20 to P25.20 per cubic meter starting November, and further to P28.67 by March 2026 — a total increase of 43 percent.
Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) justified the hike by citing inflation and rising operational costs, saying it has not raised prices since 2019 despite surging expenses.
Inflation has driven up the cost of fuel, electricity, and materials by as much as 74 percent, and the price of bulk water has risen by 33 percent annually, the firm said, adding that the new rates will cover salaries, electricity, and fuel rather than expand services.
But Bayan Panay rejected this justification, stressing that such costs are part of a company’s basic obligations.
“The proposed rate hike is unjust, burdensome, and anti-people. Operational expenses such as salaries, fuel, and electricity are basic responsibilities of the company and should not be passed on to consumers,” the group said in a statement.
According to Bayan Panay, the hike would raise a typical household’s monthly water bill from P224 to P321, further straining families already coping with high prices and stagnant wages.
The group also slammed MPIW for failing to improve water delivery under its joint venture with the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).
“Many communities still experience low water pressure or irregular supply. Others receive murky, unsafe water unfit for drinking. Clearly, there has been no real improvement in service delivery despite the public–private partnership,” Bayan Panay added.
The group urged the Iloilo City Council to investigate the rate hike and the “deteriorating water service,” while demanding that MPIW publicly disclose its financial records for transparency and accountability.
“Access to water is a basic human right, not a commodity to be exploited for profit,” Bayan Panay declared. “Stop the water rate hike! Defend the people’s right to water! Revoke the failed public–private partnership!”/PN