ILOILO City—A local official flags what he called “five-year countdown” to total water access in Iloilo City, warning that delay in the project implementation might reflect a broader national problem of inadequate investment in water supply infrastructure.
City Councilor Romel Duron said Metro Pacific Iloilo Water’s (MPIW) projection that stable water supply service will only be possible by 2029, and frees the city from costly rationing by delivery tankers.
“This is not just an Iloilo problem. If a highly urbanized city like ours can wait this long for 24/7 water supply, what does that mean for other urban centers?” Duron asked in a radio interview.
Only 30 percent of Iloilo’s barangays currently enjoy steady supply. In many communities, Duron
Duron viewed the situation as a wake up call for officials and investors to intercede.
MPIW’s long-term plans include tapping the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project II and building a ₱5-billion desalination plant in Ingore, La Paz.
Duron warned however, that the idea would only raise rates and would not solve the supply problem in the short term.
The pace of pipeline rehabilitation is another critical issue. Of 235 kilometers of defective lines, theMPIW has reportedly replaced only 20 kilometers, with completion targeted in 2026.
“Too slow,” Duron said. “If Metro Pacific can’t keep up, we need national action to open the door to more players now,” he said.
