The development of Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project in Rizal province could be delayed by a year as the project proponent”•WawaJVCo, a joint venture between Enrique Razon’s Prime Infra and Oscar Violago’s San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders Group”•is still awaiting final approval by state-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.
WawaJVco said while it continued to push for the project aimed to avert the water crisis in Metro Manila, the MWSS was allegedly sitting on the remaining approvals to finally move the project forward.
WawaJVCo said in a statement the development works to ensure water supply delivery of 80 million liters per day in 2021 and more than 500 MLD in 2025 that would address the ongoing water crisis in Metro Manila might not push through as planned.
The joint venture said it continued to wait for the final approval of the project from the MWSS, more than seven months after Manila Water Company Inc. disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange that it signed an agreement with Prime Infra over the development of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project”•a new water source development at no cost to the government.
“After a series of technical workshops and review by MWSS and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, the offtake agreement was signed by MWSS, MWC and WawaJVCO last August 6, 2019,” WawaJVCo said.
This was followed by a series of public consultations all over the East Zone from Sept. 3 to 9, 2019 led by the MWSS Regulatory Office.
“Project details were presented to the public alongside the tariff impact The presentation was well-received by the public because it was clear that this project is the most efficient and fastest solution to the ongoing water crisis. Subsequently, the MWSS board approved the tariff,” the joint venture said.
“While WawaJVco on its side continues to move forward with the project on the basis that the August agreement signing was the takeoff point, at the moment, the MWSS continues to sit on the remaining approvals to finally move the project forward,” it said
“We are ready to move forward and have been proactively working with all stakeholders, public and private, to progress this project since 2018. Wawa is the fastest and least expensive water source development and comes at no cost to the government. We are hopeful that the final steps will be taken in the coming days to finally deliver a project of critical importance to the residents of Metro Manila,” said Razon.
WawaJVCo said the MWSS, along with the other government regulatory bodies, should act quickly to avert the recurring water crisis. It said the 80-MLD milestone for 2021 would likely to face a year of delay given that more than seven months was wasted waiting for the final MWSS approvals.
“Curiously the government seems to be desperate for new water sources, yet MWSS continues to drag its feet,” Razon said.
WawaJVCo said that if not addressed immediately, the delivery of a new water source of this size in 2021 would be unlikely.
Both Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services started to ration water again on Oct. 24, 2019 as
Metro Manila’s main water source, Angat Dam, continued to be below the ideal level.
“In response to the water crisis, the government is seeking to develop new water sources, and yet the MWSS’ final approval for WawaJVco continues to be delayed,” WawaJVCo said.