The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) have signed an agreement to provide discounted water rates to SHFC’s low-income and urban poor beneficiaries in the Manila Water and Maynilad concession areas.
The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Dec. 5, aims to enroll the beneficiaries of SHFC’s housing initiatives, including the Community Mortgage Program and the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program, into the Enhanced Lifeline Program (ELP).
The government-supported initiative offers a discount on the Basic Charge of water bills for qualifying low-income households consuming 20 cubic meters or less per month.
SHFC president and chief executive Federico Laxa and chief regulator Patrick Lester Ty of MWSS RO signed the MOU in Makati.
The agencies emphasized their shared commitment to uplifting vulnerable communities by ensuring access to secure shelter and essential services like affordable and reliable water.
“It brings to life our mission—something that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling always emphasize—that our work goes beyond housing,” said Laxa.
Ty noted that the MOU strengthens their mandate to ensure accessible and affordable water, saying it deepens engagement with marginalized and low-income households that SHFC is mandated to assist and the ELP is designed to support.
Under the agreement, SHFC will identify eligible communities in the service areas of Manila Water and Maynilad, prioritizing those with bulk water applications for faster inclusion in the ELP.
The MWSS RO will coordinate with Manila Water and Maynilad to fast-track the enrollment of SHFC-certified beneficiaries. It will also serve as the main liaison, addressing issues and providing necessary support and guidelines for ELP applications.
To enroll in the ELP, beneficiaries must present a certification of low income and meet all program requirements.
 and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) team up to enroll SHFC's low-income housing beneficiaries into the Enhanced Lifeline Program (ELP), providing discounted water rates in Manila Water and Maynilad concession areas.){kind=link}