WEST ZONE water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. is building several sewage treatment plants costing P29 billion in Caloocan, Las Piñas, central Manila, Valenzuela, and Muntinlupa as part of its commitment to protect the environment.
The water provider said in a statement on Thursday that the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas and Las Piñas water reclamation facilities will provide 16% additional sewerage coverage in its concession area, once construction is finished by 2025.
It added that sewage treatment plants are also being established in barangays Cupang and Tunasan in Muntinlupa and Brgy. Marulas in Valenzuela, which will be finished within the year, while another treatment plant is being constructed at Ayala Southvale in Muntinlupa.
Currently, Maynilad is operating 22 wastewater facilities that have a total treatment capacity of 664,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily. It has 110 vacuum truck units that offer septic tank cleaning for areas not covered by the sewage treatment plants.
Maynilad President and Chief Executive Officer Ramoncito S. Fernandez said the projects are part of the company’s promise to safeguard the environment by ensuring that effluents meet legal standards.
He added that facilitating Maynilad’s construction projects goes on despite the quarantine measures being implemented due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“These projects generate jobs and business opportunities which have been drastically affected by the pandemic,” Mr. Fernandez said.
He added that expanding the company’s wastewater services is a difficult process that needs massive investments and coordination with affected local government units.
“Nevertheless, we have a comprehensive wastewater management plan in place, and its completion will ensure full sewerage coverage in our concession area which will help to considerably reduce the pollution load into Manila Bay,” Mr. Fernandez said.
Maynilad provides water to Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, Manila, Makati, and Quezon City, as well as parts of Cavite province including 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 an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
