DUMAGUETE CITY – Metro Pacific Dumaguete Water Services Inc. or Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW), a joint venture between Metro Pacific Water (MPW) and Dumaguete City Water District (DCWD), recently launched online payment channels to provide convenient payment options for its customers and keep them safe during this pandemic.

The online payment options were launched barely three months after MDW announced the opening of more than 100 additional over-the-counter payment options for its customers last May.

MDW COO David Berba said customers can now pay their water bill in the comfort of their homes through four (4) major online payment options.

“When we first started operations, linking up with other payment partners and launching online payment options were at the top of our to-do list. Now, paying your water bill is hassle-free with multiple options to choose from.”

Customers may now pay their water bills through popular mobile wallet apps Paymaya and Gcash, while payment through online banking is now also made possible through the BDO mobile app and DragonPay.

DragonPay also allows water bill payments made to Robinsons and SM Department Stores, Palawan Pawnshop, Cebuana Lhuillier, MLhuillier, and even GrabPay. MDW Finance Head Christian Mark Villanueva said the pandemic has pushed customers to stay indoors to limit their exposure, and pay online instead.

He shared that 10% of the total payments last August were made either online or through newly opened ECPay partners located in Lee Plaza, 7-11 convenience stores, and sari-sari stores across Dumaguete City.

“Slowly, our customers are adapting to digital transactions and the new online options have been well-received. We plan to open more online payment options as we envision cashless transactions at MDW moving forward,” shared Villanueva.

MDW plans to open more online banking options within the year in response to public clamor. Villanueva said this feature is vital, especially with the surge of COVID-19 cases and quarantine restrictions imposed by the national and local government.

With the extension of payment options to more than 100 partners through online and over-the-counter channels, MDW now limits its operations to Monday to Friday, from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM to limit exposure and allow the daily thorough disinfection of its office.