Maynilad explains viral P100K water bill

Water concessionaire Maynilad explained Thursday that there was an error in the computation of a customer’s water bill amounting to over P100,000, which went viral on social media.

Customer Dominic Songco posted on Facebook Tuesday a photo of his Maynilad water bill, which is P100,427.48 in July.

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“Ano ‘to Maynilad!!!? Inflatable pool lang gamit namin… pero’ yung bill niyo sa’ min para kaming may resort,” Songco said on Facebook.

(What’s this Maynilad? We are just using an inflatable pool, but your bill to us if for a resort.)

Maynilad spokesperson Zmel Grabillo said in an interview with Unang Hirit on Thursday that the meter reading in June has the wrong code, which is 1228 instead of 2228.

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“Ang kanya kasing naging meter reading noong buwan ng Pebrero, ito’ yung hindi pa nag-ECQ, ay 1988,” Grabillo said.

“Kaya lamang ang na-input na reading niya noong Hunyo, noong bumalik na ang ating pagbabasa, ay nasa 1228. Sa aking analysis po, dapat ito ay 2228, kasi mas mababa pa siya sa pinaggalingan (1988 February reading),” he added.

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Grabillo further explained that Songco’s current reading of 2232 was computed with the incorrect 1228 previous meter reading in June instead of 2228 for July reading.

“Noon pong binasa sa July na 2232—na-validate din po ito ng ating consumer, pina-validate din natin sa technical team namin—nalaman natin na ‘yung 2232, i-minus po natin ‘yung 1228, umaabot po ‘yun ng isang libong kyubiko,” he said.

“So talagang mataas ang kalalabasan po noon,” Grabillo added.

Maynilad computed Songco’s consumption by subtracting the 1988 previous reading in February from the 2232 current reading in July to correct the error.

He added the total billing from February to July will be divided into five months.

Grabillo noted that Maynilad has been postponing the release of the bill if the reading did not match the customer’s average consumption. Such an initiative was under the Billing Complaint Preventive Measure.

Maynilad also extended the bill payment period until September 30 amid the COVID-19 crisis impact on its consumers’ livelihood.

Grabillo said customers could pay their water bills on an installment basis in any amount they can. He said Maynilad’s system could track these staggered payments.