West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is investing about ₱13.2 billion this year for its water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
To enhance water supply and pressure in the West Zone, more than half of 2017 capital expenditures (CAPEX) or around ₱8.2 billion will go to Maynilad’s water infrastructure projects.
Over ₱4.2 billion has been earmarked for water sources and operations support programs, which include improvement works in Maynilad’s La Mesa and Putatan Water Treatment Plants, upgrade and construction of pumping stations and reservoirs for better supply and pressure management, installation of primary pipelines for water service expansion, and enhancements of Common Purpose Facilities (CPF) particularly the Bigte Basins, La Mesa Aqueduct and Ipo Dam in Bulacan.
Some ₱4 billion has been allotted for Maynilad’s water loss recovery or Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Management and Service Expansion Program. This covers meter management, leak detection and repair, pipe replacements, and District Metered Area management.
The rest of the budget will be spent for the modernization of data management and information systems, and maintenance of existing facilities, among other initiatives.
On the other hand, about ₱5 billion of Maynilad’s 2017 capital investment will be spent for wastewater management projects, to increase sewerage coverage and maintain compliance with environmental standards.
Of the said amount, some ₱4.1 billion will be used for the construction of a new Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and its accompanying conveyance system in Las Piñas. Another ₱345 million will be allotted for the installation of new sewer service connections and all-works for wastewater management. The remaining budget will go to the automation and maintenance of STPs, lot acquisitions, and sanitation programs.
Funding for Maynilad’s infrastructure investments will come from local and international bank loans, as well as from internally generated funds. The water company expects to generate around 40,549 jobs from its ₱13.2-billion CAPEX program this year.
“Despite the delayed implementation of our Arbitral Award, we will pursue our investment plans for the West Zone because we have an obligation to provide good water and wastewater services to our over 9 million customers,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez.
Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is the agent and contractor 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 (certain portions), Quezon City (certain portions), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.