PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) requested a power cost adjustment (PCA) to P2.50 per cubic meter to continue expansion projects after the impact of 2024 power rates in its finances.
General Manager Walter Laurel said that the city water district paid P15 kilowatt-hour (kWh) from P9 during the El Niño phenomenon, which resulted in the payment of P10 million from the average of P3 million to P4 million every month to Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco).
“Ang six million na difference, yon ang kumain sa ating reserve na cash. Kung wala tayong gagawin na changes in the next few years, maaapektuhan talaga ang ating kakayahan na mag-expand at mag-upgrade ng ating system,” he said.
The management anticipates an impact on PPCWD’s net income that may reflect on funding for expansion projects if no cost adjustment is made. He added that the impact on finances could delay implementation to five years instead of two or three years.
In the absence of cost adjustment, the city water district sees the need to prioritize income-generating projects, which are mostly located in the city proper.
The water projects in Kamuning-Inagawan Sub and Maoyon-Manalo could potentially be delayed. The expansion of water systems in Bacungan Maoyon to Manalo, Binduyan to Concepcion, San Rafael to Babuyan, and Napsan to Sitio Cabuyao is also possible.
Lawyer Winston Gonzales, PPCWD board chair, stated that in 2015, the power cost per cubic meter was P2.95, but it spiked to P7.35 in 2024, leading to a P4.4 variation. Rather than imposing a P4.4 cost adjustment, the board decided to reduce it to P2.50 to alleviate the burden on consumers.
“Sabi nila sa board parang masyadong mabigat kaya we try to meet halfway kaya ang in-approve ng board ay P2.50 lang para hindi masyadong mabigat. Ang P2.50 ay hindi talaga ‘yon sapat but just the same, we can maintain and sustain operations plus meron pa rin magiging pondo for expansion,” he said.
The PPCWD estimates an average consumption of 21 cubic meters in households connected with it. If the cost adjustment is approved by the Local Water Utilities Association (LWUA) after the public hearing in November, an average of P52.5 may be added to their monthly bill consumption.
The cost adjustment is expected to be implemented in January 2025.
The first power adjustment of the city water district was in 2005, followed by 2010. Currently, residential consumers pay P27 for 1-10 cubic meters, P29.90 for 11-20 cubic meters, P32.70 for 21-30 cubic meters, P36.40 for 31-40 cubic meters, and P41.10 for 40 cubic meters and above.
Out of 66 barangays in the city, there are 54 already connected with the city water district. PPCWD recorded 55,981 active service connections with its service in 2024. (RG/ PIA MIMAROPA- Palawan)
