New Mayor Halts Environmental Fees Collection in Angeles City
ANGELES CITY — On his very first day in office, Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II took decisive action by suspending the collection of environmental fees by water utility companies. This move responds directly to numerous complaints from residents and local businesses.
Mayor Lazatin issued Executive Order No. 2025-00 on Tuesday, July 1, which temporarily halts fees previously mandated by three city ordinances. These ordinances required Primewater Angeles City and Balibago Waterworks to collect environmental or septage fees from households and establishments.
The four-word keyphrase environmental fees collection in Angeles appears early in this announcement, reflecting the mayor’s immediate priority to address community concerns regarding these charges.
Background of the Environmental Fee Ordinances
The ordinances, enacted during the term of Mayor Lazatin’s half-brother, now Pampanga First District Representative Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., set specific fees based on water consumption. Households were required to pay P5 per cubic meter, while businesses, institutions, and government offices were charged P10 per cubic meter.
Initially passed in 2019, the first ordinance mandated annual septic vault siphoning for all business establishments. A 2022 amendment introduced a P5 septage fee for residential and other buildings. Then, a 2023 ordinance increased the fee to P10 for non-residential structures.
Mayor Lazatin’s Executive Order and Its Impact
The mayor’s order instructs water utility firms and the local water district to immediately cease collecting these environmental fees until further notice. Additionally, the city’s accredited septic tank disposal company is ordered to halt all related desludging and siphoning activities tied to these fees.
Mayor Lazatin cited “numerous complaints, concerns, and comments” from city residents and stakeholders as the main reason behind this suspension. The local government plans to reevaluate the environmental fees collection in Angeles to ensure fairness and transparency.
This suspension aims to ease the financial burden on residents and businesses while the city reviews the ordinances’ implementation and impact.
Looking Ahead
The suspension remains in effect pending a thorough reassessment of the fees. Local officials have yet to announce a timeline for the review or potential adjustments to the ordinances.
For now, residents and businesses in Angeles City can expect relief from these charges, reflecting the new administration’s responsiveness to public feedback.
For more news and updates on environmental fees collection in Angeles, visit Filipinokami.com.