“Guaranteeing water quality in every drop strikes at the heart of the mission of water utilities which is to safeguard and promote public health as well as to ensure public trust.”
This was stressed by Manila Water Corp. president Ferdinand M. dela Cruz at the plenary session of the Singapore International Water Week last July 17-19 attended by select water executives from various countries including Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco.
Serving as one of the featured panelists in the Singapore water conference with theme “Forging Alliance Amongs Water Utility Leaders,” Dela Cruz cited the case of Manila Water regarding updating its risk-based “Water Safety Plans from Source to Tap” and working with the Department of Health and the World Health Organization.
“We have also streamlined and updated the process and parameters working closely with our regulator, MWSS. We update our Capex Investment Plan every five years through a Rate Rebasing exercise which takes into account priority investments related to water quality,” the Manila Water CEO added.
Dela Cruz noted that the key imperative for all water utilities and regulators is to act resolutely in reviewing the adequacy of their current plans and programs around water quality—from water source to distribution.
He cited some important attributes that water utilities must have from having comprehensive program to a clear set of prioritized projects in their respective Capex plan to address most common critical water quality issues both in normal times and in times of emergency—breakouts, typhoons, earthquakes—to respond effectively and efficiently in case of a water quality crisis.
Meanwhile, MWSS Administrator Velasco cited the Ayala-owned Manila Water not only for its performance as a concessionaire over the last 20 years serving 6.5 million customers in the East Zone with only 11 percent non-revenue water but also for exporting the successful Private Public Partnership (PPP) legal framework to other ASEAN countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Myanmar.