THE PHILIPPINES is working to forge partnerships with Israeli companies to use different technologies to increase water supply in the country.
“Very soon, everyone will hear about technologies coming from Israel, a nation that is quite known for innovations,” Environment Undersecretary Carlos Primo C. David said on the sidelines of a water forum last week.
Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss said the Israel delegation is in talks with local water companies to accelerate the country’s use of water sewage treatment and even desalination technologies.
“It is a continuous dialogue and hopefully we can see some progress in areas that are happening like desalination, UV filtration and disinfection,” said Israel’s Economic and Trade Mission to the Philippines Tomer Heyvi.
Earlier, Mr. David said that around 40% of the country’s population does not have a formal water supply.
“Israel is far away, they cannot succeed in the Philippine market without a good local arm. So new partnership is being forged and this is a one step before the project,” Mr. Heyvi added.
Non-revenue water refers to water that is not billed and is lost through leaks or illegal connections. Israeli companies offer solutions in identifying leaks within water company’s water networks by satellite.
Management of non-revenue water is a big part of the operations of the water concessionaires serving the Philippines’ capital such as the west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) and east zone Manila Water Co., Inc.
In 2023, Maynilad said it was allocating P16.5 billion to manage its water losses, while Manila Water has been ramping up its monitoring program to reduce water losses.
Aside from this, Mr. Fluss said local water companies are also interested in sewage treatment technologies, which treat wastewater to make it potable, as well as desalination technologies to make saltwater safe for consumption and irrigation.
Mr. Heyvi also said that water utility companies are also keen on automating their operations by tapping digital solutions.
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. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
