Razon-led Manila Water Philippine Ventures (MWPV) and the Pangasinan Provincial Government are set to revisit their water supply partnership after terminating their concession agreement last year.

In a statement on Monday, Jan. 29, MWPV said that reassessing and expanding its water infrastructure would support the economic advancement of the province.

The deal between two parties initially broke ground last 2022, as MWPV planned on investing P8 billion to create an infrastructure which sources Agno River water to increase Pangasinan's water supply.

The deal was then terminated late 2023.

Melvin Tan, Manila Water’s non-east zone chief operating officer, shared that Pangasinan also believes that better management of water supply would be vital for residents and commercial areas, stating that “Manila Water continues to expand its footprints in the country’s top metropolitan cities.”

Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III shared that the province has been seeking job-generating ventures to further improve its local economy.

“[I am] eyeing the establishment of more economic zones in the province to boost the economy, [as this] means more job opportunities for Pangasinenses,” he said.

MWPV’s existing joint venture agreement (JVA) is the Calasaiao Water Co., which manages, develops, rehabilitation, finances, and operates water facilities within 24 barangays, serving nearly a hundred thousand people.

Calasiao Water was established with a 25-year public-private partnership with the Calasiao Water District last August 2017.

Manila Water also stated that Pangasinan has one of the largest land areas covering 41.8 percent of the Ilocos region, and thus has attracted investments in recent years.

Pangasinan has also been considered one of the most populated provinces in the country, which is why MWPV planned on entering another venture with the local government unit (LGU).

Moreover, the LGU established the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (PEDIPO) to expedite investments in Pangasinan including the process, application, and approval.

Just last year, Pangasinan entered a P34 billion toll concession agreement to pursue the Pangasinan Link Expressway project (PLEX), which generated positive economic results, livelihood opportunities, businesses, and more importantly connectivity to help with the tourism industry.