By Madelaine B. Miraflor
After the COVID-19 lockdown forced it to suspend its desludging services, Maynilad Water Services Inc. said it is now resuming its septic tank cleaning or desludging services for residential and semi-business customers starting July 1, 2020.
This, as the government already ease the lockdown restrictions, following the implementation of a general community quarantine (GCQ), in the National Capital Region.
Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez earlier emphasized that Maynilad’s sanitation program is crucial in terms of reducing the pollution that is being loaded into the metropolis' river systems.
“We ask our customers to avail of this service to protect community health and the environment.” Fernandez said.
Maynilad said it has adopted new and more stringent protocols in the conduct of desludging services to ensure the safety of its customers who will avail of the septic tank cleaning.
Prior to field deployment, Maynilad required all of its desludging personnel and vacuum truck unit operators to pass antibody screening tests conducted by Delos Santos Medical Center of the MPIC Hospital Group.
They will also be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), practice physical distancing, and undertake extra disinfection procedures to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
“We have made our already-stringent desludging safety protocols even stricter, to assure our customers that we are taking all necessary steps to protect them from possible COVID-19 infection as we deliver our desludging services in their homes,” said Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randy T. Estrellado.
Customers residing in Brgy. Apolonio Samson, Balingasa, Damayan, Del Monte, Kaligayagan, Maharlika, Manresa, Novaliches Proper, NS Amoranto, Pag-ibig sa Nayon, Pasong Putik, San Antonio, and Sienna in Quezon City; Brgy. Balangkas, Bignay, Gen. T. de Leon, Lingunan, and Pasolo, in Valenzuela; and Brgy. San Rafael in Pasay City may now avail of Maynilad’s desludging service at no extra cost. Septic tank cleaning service normally costs around P5,000 per truck.
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.