WEST ZONE water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. has launched its P969.14-million Central Manila Sewerage System (CMSS) rehabilitation project, which will upgrade sewer lines in Manila.

The upgrade aims to ensure the continued reliability of the concessionaire’s sewerage system and enables the flow of a larger volume of wastewater produced by households and establishments in the area.

It will cover 9,600 linear meters of sewer lines in 30 barangays in some areas of Sta. Cruz and Malate.

Maynilad’s sewer rehabilitation project will also assist to sustain sewerage coverage expansion in the west zone concession area, which will eventually reduce the pollution load in Manila Bay.

The project’s target completion date is around June 2021.

“To date, we have already invested more than P41 billion for the improvement and expansion of the wastewater infrastructure, including our ongoing construction of new sewage treatment plants in Valenzuela, Las Piñas, and Cupang and Tunasan in Muntinlupa,” Maynilad President and Chief Executive Officer Ramoncito S. Fernandez said in a statement.

According to Maynilad, the CMSS rehabilitation project is part of its long-term wastewater management initiative that aims to protect the environment and consumer health, and is in accordance with the Supreme Court mandamus to preserve and rehabilitate Manila Bay.

The water provider said the sewer project also supports the Manila Bay rehabilitation program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Maynilad provides water for areas in the west zone of the National Capital Region such as Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, Manila, Makati, and Quezon City; and parts of Cavite province such as Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which has a 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. – Revin Mikhael D. Ochave