- Defers water rate hike
By Ivy Tejano
The Davao City Water District helps ease the living condition ordeal of its consumers by restoring its “Libreng Tubig Promo” covering the last quarter of 2026, per DCWD Board Resolution No. 26-173. Qualified customers will once again enjoy free water in their October, November, and December 2026 consumption, which will be reflected in the November and December 2026 and January 2027 billings, respectively.
The promo applies to all residential connections with 1/2” size water meters whose water consumption is five (5) cubic meters or less. Only the meter maintenance charge of PhP50 and other arrears (if applicable) shall be reflected in the water bill. This promo is non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash, and not valid in conjunction with any other discounts.
The announcement came in tandem with the announcement that DCWD will not implement any water rate increase.
DCWD’s Board of Directors headed by its Chairman Ed Bangayan and is management led by Mildred Aviles explained that the Libreng Tubig Promo is the water utility’s way of expressing appreciation to customers for their continued support throughout its 53 years of service. At the same time, the twin moves will provide additional relief to eligible households amid current economic conditions and rising household expenses by offering free water consumption.
Through this offer, DCWD shares with its customers the benefits of the significant improvement in its water service with the conjunctive use of both groundwater and surface water sources, strengthening DCWD’s operational capacity and climate readiness. The promo also reaffirms DCWD’s commitment to providing accessible and responsive water services to Davaoenos, further strengthening Davao City’s position as one of the most livable cities in the country.
In a related development, the Davao City Water District (DCWD) confirmed it will not implement additional water rate hikes, choosing instead to absorb escalating operational expenditures to shield consumers from compounding inflationary pressures.
DCWD spokesperson Jovana Cresta Duhaylungsod said the water utility has deferred discussions on new tariff adjustments despite facing higher fuel costs and rising overhead expenses across its service area.
“We’re currently absorbing all of the increases in the market that affect our operations and services,” Duhaylungsod said, highlighting that protecting customer welfare remains the primary driver behind maintaining present utility charges.
Duhaylungsod clarified that the management is not entertaining rate adjustments at this time, given prevailing economic conditions. She said the decision comes following a 12.5% rate adjustment implemented earlier in February 2026.
The DCWD maintained that current billing tiers remain within the affordability thresholds mandated by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).
To help ease household expenses, Duhaylungsod reiterated that DCWD has launched its “Libreng Tubig” program, offering free water service to eligible residents from October through December 2026.
Duhaylungsod describes relief measures as tokens of gratitude for over five decades of community support and an incentive to promote water conservation by encouraging families to keep monthly usage within the five-cubic-meter threshold.
The DCWD affirmed it will continue to internalize market-driven increases in operational costs while keeping existing consumer tariffs fixed for the foreseeable future.
