East Zone concessionaire Manila Water Company’s P181-billion Service Improvement Plan is aligned with the government’s thrust to build more infrastructure that are climate resilient, support conservation, and reduce risks brought about by disasters.
In a statement, the firm said the plan, which will be implemented from 2023 to 2027, includes the construction of new water sources and needed infrastructure as well as the rehabilitation of existing facilities.
Set to provide additional 438 MLD of water for more than 1 million customers in Antipolo, Teresa and Baras, this project is part of Manila Water’s 2023-2027 Service Improvement Plan, which comprises construction of disaster-resilient facilities to ensure water supply and service reliability in the East Zone.
As Metro Manila is still dependent to Angat Dam for 95 percent of its water needs, Manila Water said there is a need to look for other water sources to guarantee 24/7 supply to its customers.
Manila Water developed a 4-Water System Master Plan starting with the Angat-La Mesa Water System which involves diverting raw water from Sumag River in Quezon to the Angat Reservoir and rehabilitating the Umiray Angat Transbasin.
The Laguna Lake Water System involves the East Bay Water Supply System Project Phase 1 and 2 which will tap Laguna Lake as source of additional 50 million liters of water per day (MLD) for the municipalities of Jalajala, Baras, Morong, Cardona and Binangonan in Rizal.
Under the Antipolo Water System is the construction of Wawa-Calawis Water Supply System which will bring additional 518 MLD of water for Manila Water customers in Antipolo City, Teresa and Baras.
Finally, the East Sources Water System will include the Kaliwa Water Supply Project and other Long-Term East Sources.
The plan also calls for the rehabilitation, retrofitting and improvement of Manila Water’s existing water treatment plants (WTPs), package treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, aged primary pipelines, and pipe bridges, and pipelaying of more reliability and distribution lines.
Manila Water is also set to embark on building a Three-River System Wastewater Masterplan.
A new Septage Treatment Plant (SpTP) and six sewage treatment plants (STPs) with complimenting sewer network lines, pump stations and lift stations will be built under the Marikina River System, San Juan River System, Pasig River System and Laguna Lake System to ensure full coverage of wastewater collection and treatment in the East Zone.
“All these projects have integrated innovations in disaster resiliency in its design and construction,” said Manila Water President and CEO Jose Emmanuel De Dios.
He noted that, “Similar with the government’s views on the future of the infrastructure sector in the Philippines, Manila Water recognizes the need for investing in infrastructure to ensure viable and reliable service to the public despite the inevitable challenges we are facing such as population increase, climate change, and disaster vulnerability.”
“Through prioritizing construction of climate-resilient infrastructure in our current and future service improvement plans, we hope to continuously contribute to the administration’s Build Better More program, at the same time, to the country’s economic development,” De Dios added.