ILOILO City – Iloilo, one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, is now facing a water crisis that is hitting its people hard — both in their wallets and in their daily lives. What should be a basic service has become a struggle for survival. And it’s costing Ilonggos more than just money.
For years, Metro Iloilo Water District (MPIW) has promised a reliable water supply — but the truth is, MPIW has failed, and the system is broken.
The Institute of Contemporary Economics (ICE), a reputable and highly respected multidisciplinary think tank, highlighted in a report that the failure to adjust water tariffs has resulted in uneconomical rates, causing a collapse in water service delivery. Customers are left with a broken system. The need for reasonable tariffs to sustain the water system has never been clearer. The ICE report underscores that maintaining the status quo in pricing and usage only worsens the crisis. It forces Ilonggos to rely on costly bottled or trucked water deliveries, driving up expenses and prolonging the problem.
The Price of Trucked Water: Up to P250 per Cubic Meter and Still No Guarantee
For many, trucked water is their only option — but it comes at a steep price of as much as P250 per cubic meter, per the ICE report. And it’s not even reliable. Deliveries are often delayed, leaving people without water for days. This is the harsh reality caused by MPIW’s failure to manage the water system effectively. What’s worse, this is the price of inaction — a price Ilonggos shouldn’t have to pay.
The Price of Bottled Water: A Never-Ending Struggle
Bottled water has become a temporary fix for some, but at P2,000 per cubic meter, it’s simply unsustainable for most families. Middle- and lower-income households are forced to choose between paying for water or for basic needs like food and medicine. This is not just inconvenient; it’s a financial burden that no family should have to bear.
The Price of Desalination: A Solution That Still Isn’t Enough
Iloilo is exploring desalination to meet its water needs, but even this comes at a hefty price — P60 or more per cubic meter, three times the current price. While desalination could help, it won’t solve the problem on its own. Even with the new desalination plant, the water supply will still fall short of what the city needs. MPIW must work with other partners and the local government to find additional, sustainable solutions.
The Price of Inconvenience: The Toll on Daily Life
This crisis is more than just an inconvenience — it’s affecting everything. Families waste hours every day just trying to get enough water to survive. Businesses close or adjust operations, while the economy suffers. The impact on productivity, health, and well-being is staggering. The cost of living without reliable water is taking a toll on Ilonggos, and it’s getting worse every day.
The Need for Reasonable Water Tariffs: A Solution We Can Afford
The root of the problem lies in the system itself. According to ICE, Iloilo has some of the lowest water tariffs in the world, averaging only P24.51 per cubic meter. This unsustainable pricing has resulted in deteriorating infrastructure and service failures. The proposed rate of P40 per cubic meter, as part of the Iloilo Bulk Water Supply public-private partnership proposal, is essential to repair the system. While still far below the exorbitant costs of bottled or trucked water, it remains the only viable solution to ensure a consistent and reliable water supply for all residents.
The Real Price of Poor Management
The cost of MPIW’s failures isn’t just financial — it’s a public health crisis, a social injustice, and an ongoing hardship for thousands of Ilonggos. Every day that passes without action is a day that more people suffer. As Iloilo continues to grow, the need for affordable, reliable water has never been more urgent.
Ilonggos deserve a solution, not more empty promises. They deserve to live without worrying if they’ll have enough water tomorrow. It’s time MPIW and MIWD work with local leaders and other stakeholders to fix this crisis. Until they do, the true cost of water in Iloilo will keep weighing heavily on its people./PN
