The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and its concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water reassured customers of adequate water supply even as the agency unveiled various water supply projects to attain water security in the next 25 or 50 years.
“There is no problem with water and I would like to assure all consumers that there is a continuing effort to ensure water security under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco said. “We realize that there is a pressing need for new water supply sources due to the increasing demand. Definitely, the increasing population in Metro Manila and nearby provinces need the additional water supply,” Velasco said.
The MWSS chief made the statement at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay where he was joined by Manila Water COO Ding Carpio and Maynilad COO Randy Estrellado who both assured the public of continuing water supply and clarified issues on their concerted efforts on water security, wastewater treatment plants and sewerage and watershed conservation.
Aside from enough water supply, Velasco said “MWSS is focused on providing clean and potable water, honest and dedicated public service as we respect concession agreements.” He also expressed full support for the government’s infrastructure program notably President Duterte’s Build-Build-Build project and his other programs.”
He cited the Kaliwa Dam project, one of Duterte administration’s flagship projects and forms part of the water security, that will finally take off to provide additional 650 mld water for Metro Manila to augment the existing 4,000 mld from Angat Dam.
Velasco said that MWSS is on track in the bidding process of the three pre-qualified Chinese firms namely—China Energy Engineering Co. Limited, Power China Limited, and the Consortium of Guandung Foreign Construction, Co., Ltd. and Guandong Yuantian Engineering Co., Ltd.—all nominated by China’s Ministry of Commerce under the China ODA.
Maynilad’s Estrallado said “both Maynilad and Manila Water are actually committed to support the project via payment of concession fees. It is one of two reasons that our concession agreements were extended a couple of years ago basically to support this new water source and lower the impact on the tariff to our customers.”
On water conservation, Manila Water COO Geodino Carpio shared that his company is not promoting wastage of water due to growing consumption in their concession area. Maynilad reminded their customers to ensure their faucets and toilet flushes are functioning well not only to minimize water wastage but also to minimize their water bills