MAYNILAD WATER SERVICES, Inc. said it has spent nearly P14 billion to expand its sewerage coverage in its west zone concession area since it was re-privatized in 2007, allowing a wider reach despite hurdles.
“It is a challenge for us to facilitate the completion of wastewater projects, given the impact to traffic of laying new conveyance systems. Nonetheless, these projects are important so we can catch harmful effluents before discharge to the environment,” said Maynilad President and Chief Executive Officer Ramoncito S. Fernandez in a statement on Sunday.
“We need the support of local government and the communities to accelerate sewerage coverage expansion,” he added.
Maynilad’s investment went into building 15 new sewage treatment plants (STPs), a sewage and septage treatment plant, and a septage treatment plant. It was also used to rehabilitate existing wastewater facilities, acquire new vacuum trucks for septic tank cleaning, and install 27.5-kilometers of new sewer lines.
It now operates 17 STPs, two sewage and septage treatment plants, and one septage treatment plant with a combined treatment capacity of an estimated 542,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily.
For 2018, Maynilad has set aside almost P1.7 billion for wastewater projects to maintain the reliability of the wastewater network and sustain operations.
Antonio F. Garcia, Maynilad head of wasterwater management, said when the new management took over the west concession, sewerage coverage was only 6% while only two STPs were operating.
“We have since expanded coverage to 16% as of June 2018. Much still needs to be done, and we are doing our best to facilitate completion of our sewerage projects despite right-of-way conflicts, permit issuance delays, and lot acquisition issues.”
Maynilad, which aims to attain 100% sewerage coverage by the end of the concession period in 2037, is building additional STPs Pasay, Parañaque, Valenzuela, Cavite City, and Tunasan and Cupang in Muntinlupa. It will be able to increase sewerage coverage in the west zone to 26% once these projects are completed in 2020.
Areas that are not connected to Maynilad’s sewer network are being provided septic tank cleaning services.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which has majority stake in Maynilad, is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Victor V. Saulon
