Razon-led Manila Water Co. is expanding its water utility units this year, with a potential increase in participation in the retail aggregation program (RAP).
On the sidelines of Water Philippines Expo 2025, Melvin John Tan, Manila Water chief operating officer for non-east zone operations, said the company plans to transition more of its facilities outside eastern Metro Manila to RAP.
“We have several business units outside of Metro Manila. I don’t want to preempt but there is a lineup [and] hopefully, every month we can switch these business units [to retail aggregation],” he told reporters on Wednesday, March 19.
RAP is a program that allows multiple end-users within the same franchise area to aggregate their power loads, reaching a minimum of 500 kilowatts (kW), thereby enabling them to choose their own electricity supplier.
“All business units who will qualify under the RAP program, we will make the most out of and take advantage of it,” Tan added.
According to Tan, the company aims to aggregate some of its facilities in Luzon, following the initial switch-on ceremony in Quezon City last February.
The first infrastructures switched to RAP were the Heroes Hill sewage treatment plant (STP), FTI (South) STP, Kalayaan STP, San Mateo (North) STP, East Avenue lift station, Road 5 (Project 6), Mahabang Parang lift station, UP Diliman STP, Diego Silang STP, and Olandes STP in Marikina.
Manila Water is the first to switch on 10 of its water facilities through Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc.’s PrimeRES Corp., a newly listed retail electricity supplier (RES).
The Prime Infra subsidiary entered the RES market last year, stating that it would source capacity from both its affiliate and non-affiliate energy-generating assets.
“We have two business units lined up to be switched this month [in Luzon] so hopefully we’ll make that announcement soon,” Tan said.
Furthermore, Tan expressed that Manila Water is open to another partnership with PrimeRES for its other projects but clarified that this decision would be subject to shareholder approval.