WATER RATE HIKE. People line up to fetch water from a tanker in this Feb. 8, 2022 photo while a pumping station in Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City, was being fixed. The Dumaguete City Water District has postponed a water rate hike due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Typhoon Odette onslaught, and rising fuel prices. (Photo courtesy of Metro Dumaguete Water) DUMAGUETE CITY - A scheduled water rates adjustment that will be effective here next month has been put on hold. Kate Young, spokesperson of Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW), told the Philippine News Agency on Monday that the Dumaguete City Water District (DCWD) has deferred the water rate hike to help the people who are still reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, and the current hike in fuel prices. MDW is a joint public-private venture between Metro Pacific Water and the DCWD, although the latter still has the authority over certain administrative matters, among other things, Young said. In a press statement, DCWD said the increase in water rates that would have taken effect March 1 is put on hold following a request from the city government of Dumaguete. "While MDW is in charge of operations now that a public-private partnership is in effect, DCWD still retains its rights as the owner of the water franchise, water distribution systems, wells, pumping stations, and other infrastructure, among others," Young said. The DCWD had applied with the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for a tariff rate increase in 2018, citing the need for improvement of its facilities following an influx of water users in this growing city. The LWUA approved the application in November 2021 and the rate adjustment would have been implemented the following month. The DCWD could have implemented the water rate hike last December although MDW announced it would be moved to March, this year. Young said they will wait for a new announcement from its partner, DCWD, as to when the rate adjustment would take effect. The increase in water rates is to fund the construction of new deep wells and reservoirs, and "allow continued efforts to reduce water losses through extensive rehabilitation of pipelines to improve water service for Dumaguetenos", DCWD said in its statement. Recently, the MDW had to shut down the water supply in three barangays here to give way to the repair of a water pumping station in Barangay Bajumpandan and the replacement of about 17 poles. (PNA) }