Metro Pacific and DMCI-led Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) invested more than P34-billion in capital expenditure projects from 2007 to the first half of 2012, to improve services and expand distribution coverage in the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area.
Among major projects that the West Zone concessionaire implemented during the said period are the laying of over 2,400 kilometers of new pipes; rehabilitation of old and inoperative pumping stations; installation of valves and other measuring devices throughout the water infrastructure network; construction of new pumping stations, reservoirs, and water and wastewater treatments plants; and development of a new water source in its southern district.
Investments for 2012
For this year alone, Maynilad earmarked around P8.4 billion to improve and expand its water and wastewater services.
Some P1.7 billion will go to enhancing Maynilad’s sewerage and sanitation drive while P1.9 billion will be used to upgrade key facilities. P3 billion will be spent to lay new pipelines in unserved areas and nearly P1.6 billion will be used for the company’s aggressive Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction program.
The rest of the 2012 CAPEX budget will be used for the development of water sources, building and warehouse facilities, natural calamity mitigation and other projects.
Job Creation and Government Debt Servicing
The accelerated implementation of these CAPEX projects has generated more than 131,975 jobs, which include those generated by Maynilad’s contractors and suppliers.
"Our infrastructure projects not only bring potable water to more West Zone communities, they also help stimulate the economy by generating jobs for more people. In the coming years, we are committed to creating even more employment opportunities through our service improvement projects,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ricky Vargas.
Maynilad was also able to prepay US$240 million worth of debts that it inherited from the government, which made possible its early exit from court-administrated rehabilitation in 2008.
Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. Its concession area includes parts of Manila, Quezon City and Makati, and the whole of Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.