MANILA -- Manila Water and Maynilad are offering bigger coverage for lifeline rate beneficiaries by including all members of 4Ps or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program whose consumption does not go beyond 20 cubic meters per month.

In a public consultation on Tuesday, Manila Water said that the discount is 60 percent on the first 10 cubic meters and 40 percent on the second 10 cubic meter consumption.

This translates to a discount of more than P200 for a 4Ps consumer using up to 20 cubic meters per month.

For example, a regular consumer who uses 20 cubic meters pays around P569, but a beneficiary of this new program will only pay P274.

The following are the requirements:

1. 4Ps ID

2. Updated payment of monthly bill

3. Other government IDs 

4. NBI clearance

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System however has asked Manila Water to remove the NBI clearance requirement, and instead study the possibility of requiring other documents to prove that they have not committed crimes like water theft.

If the connection is not in the name of the beneficiary, he or she can ask for a certification from the landlord or owner of the account that the beneficiary is the one using the water connection.

A qualified beneficiary can apply in any of the 6 Manila Water offices or call their office to get an application letter.

MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said the broader lifeline coverage will help a number of poor consumers.

Ty says the program will have to be approved by the MWSS board, though personally, he said he will personally push for its implementation by next year since this will help a number of people.

According to Ty, he will also ask the water concessionaires to study the possibility of also giving a reprieve to other marginalized sectors who are not members of the 4Ps.

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