Ayala-led Manila Water Company Inc. has secured the deal that will allow it to build a sewage treatment plant in Hinulugang Taktak, a protected area located in Rizal, Philippines.
The company announced over the weekend the signing of the "usufruct agreement" that will "set the ball rolling" for the construction of the Hinulugang Taktak Sewage Treatment Plant in Antipolo City.
Usufruct means the legal right to use someone else's property temporarily and to keep any profit made from it, according to Cambridge Dictionary.
During the signing ceremony, Antipolo City Mayor Andrea Ynares welcomed the commencement of the construction of the sewage treatment plant and assured Manila Water of her office’s support for the project.
The event was also attended by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu.
Cimatu commended the partnership of Manila Water and Antipolo City for this project and emphasizes the significance of public-private partnership in protecting and saving the environment, especially that of waterways.
The Hinulugang Taktak Sewerage System Project will involve the construction of a 16-million liter per day (MLD) Sewage Treatment Plant and laying of approximately 6 kilometers of sewer network lines.
The sewerage system will help ensure that wastewater from the community is cleaned before it is discharge to the Hinulugang Taktak Falls, Manila Water said.
"Once completed, the sewerage services in the area will help restore Hinulugang Taktak Falls to its old glory," the listed company said.
The Hinulugang Taktak Sewage Treatment Plant is the fifth, and largest, wastewater treatment facility of Manila Water in the province of Rizal.
This is in addition to the existing 41 wastewater treatment facilities that Manila Water has built and is now operating across the East Zone.
Once completed, the total wastewater treatment capacity will be increased to 426 million liters of water per day (MLD).