Officers from Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport Authority (NAIAA) recently met to address the airport’s water supply problem. The meeting was set up after Maynilad chairman Manny Pangilinan noticed the diggings at the NAIA-1.
The Filipino tycoon arrived Saturday from a business trip in Hong Kong and was told of the waterless restrooms at the 28-year old terminal. After learning that the airport sourced its water supply from deepwells, Pangilinan readily offered the assistance of the West Zone concessionaire.
Maynilad is the authorized water service provider for Pasay and Paranaque where the airports are located. The company is owned and managed by Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.
During the meeting between the water executives and NAIA, Maynilad encouraged the airport authorities to connect the facility to its water distribution line. The water company also offered NAIAA its technical expertise and leak detection equipment to accurately identify the leaky pipes in the airport. In the coming days, Maynilad will also be submitting a proposal to NAIAA on how the parties can proceed with the connection.
Ricky Vargas, Maynilad’s President and CEO, is hopeful that the connection will push through immediately, citing the country’s image and public safety as his reasons.
“To a certain extent, the state of our airports is a reflection on how progressive we are as a country. No amount of marketing and advertising can improve our image if we cannot even provide tourists basic amenities such as running water and clean restrooms” explained Vargas.
He also stressed the risks of using deepwell water. “Water from most deepwells is not well treated or regularly monitored, unlike ours. The water we supply passes through a stringent treatment process and the Department of Health regularly checks the potability of our supply,” he added.
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, the northern part starting from the Districts of the Holy Spirit & Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Hi-way), Caloocan, Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, 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.