Clark Development Corporation and Clark Water Corporation Initiate Public Consultations on 2026 Water Rate Rebasing

The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and Clark Water Corporation (CWC) have commenced public consultations on the 2026 Rate Rebasing (RR26) initiative aimed at establishing fair and equitable water tariffs that accurately reflect the costs of delivering dependable water and wastewater services. This rate rebasing process is conducted every four years to adjust tariffs based on actual investments, performance, and service improvement plans.

Gloria Victoria Taruc, CDC Vice President for Legal Affairs Group, emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in the consultative process. She stated, "The purpose of today's session is to inform stakeholders and the public about the proposed adjustments in water rates, clarify the reasons behind the rate rebasing, and gather feedback, concerns, and suggestions."

The inaugural forum saw the participation of at least 62 officers from 37 locators, offering a collaborative platform for stakeholder engagement. CDC highlighted that the RR26 forum provided a detailed update on Clark Water's operational performance since the previous rate rebasing, sharing data, metrics, achievements, challenges, and areas needing improvement.

CWC President Melvin John Tan presented a comprehensive Service Improvement Plan for RR26, outlining key strategies and initiatives designed to enhance service quality, address operational challenges, and meet the evolving requirements of locators. This presentation included detailed timelines, responsibilities, and planned improvements.

Following the presentation, an open forum was held where locators contributed valuable insights and recommendations to further refine the proposals.

The CDC's Technical Working Group (TWG) for the 2026 Rate Rebasing is led by Taruc as the Oversight Head, alongside Engr. Rogelio Magat as TWG Chairman. Accompanying Tan were CWC Chief Executive Officer Maidy Lynne Quinto, General Manager Lyn Joceffin Zamora, and other members of the Clark Water Leadership Team.

Clark Water Corporation remains the exclusive provider of water and wastewater services within Clark Freeport and the Clark Special Economic Zone. The CDC noted that the approval of the previous RR22 in 2023 marked a pivotal achievement as it was the first successful rebasing exercise since 2014 and represented the first tariff increase implemented by CWC in 17 years.

This ongoing rate rebasing exercise ensures that tariffs remain aligned with the actual costs of providing quality water services, reflecting continuous investments and improvements to meet stakeholder needs.