West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) recently won in the Project Innovation Awards (Asia Pacific) of the International Water Association (IWA) for its Water Service Transformation program. The Project Innovation Awards is a prestigious international competition which recognises and celebrates innovation and excellence in water engineering projects around the world. This year, Maynilad received the Honour Award under the Operations/Management Category because of its quick and dramatic company turnaround.
In just five years, Maynilad was able to transform its business, operations, services and organization, to become a reliable and dynamic water concessionaire of the Philippine government.
Maynilad’s Water Service Transformation program was launched upon its re-privatization in 2007, to improve and expand water services in its concession area. Under this program, Maynilad developed and implemented a holistic innovation strategy that involved the transformation of its water system, people, business, customer services and public image. This strategy enabled the company to accelerate the implementation of its five-year US$700-million capital expenditure program, resulting in enhanced service levels, lower water losses and improved financial standing.
“We are both humbled and grateful for this recognition from the IWA. This also inspires us to continue what we started, and to aspire for even greater things for our company, customers and other stakeholders,†said Maynilad President and CEO Ricky P. Vargas. “With hard work and a holistic innovation strategy, simultaneous organizational and water service transformation is possible,†he added.
Based in the United Kingdom, the IWA is a global network of over 10,000 water professionals who collaborate to promote the development and implementation of innovative and effective approaches to water management.
Owned by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and DMCI Holdings, Inc., Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is a concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres & Sta Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Avenue, thenorthern part starting from the Districts of the Holy Spirit & Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; Cavite City, and the towns of Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.
IN PHOTO: (L-R) Chris Hertle GHD Pty Ltd.’s (formerly known as Gutteridge Haskins & Davey) Global Market Leader for Water presents the IWA Project Innovation Awards trophy to Maynilad officials Chief Operating Officer Herbert Consunji, Business Area Operations head Christopher Lichauco, and Corporate Communications head Cherubim Ocampo-Mojica.
