MAYNILAD WATER Services, Inc. is upgrading its sewage and septage treatment plant in Dagat-dagatan, Caloocan City to boost the facility’s efficiency in serving around 16,000 customers in the northern part of Metro Manila.
Ramoncito S. Fernandez, Maynilad’s president and chief executive, said part of the company’s long-term plan is to build the largest sewage treatment plant in its west zone concession area within the Dagat-dagatan plant to produce effluent that meets the stricter quality standards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“Ultimately, this will help to reduce pollution loading in waterways that empty out to Manila Bay,” he said in a statement.
The company is spending P70 million for the facility’s rehabilitation. The project is expected to be completed in February 2019.
Aside from treating the wastewater generated by customers in Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas, Maynilad’s Dagat-dagatan Sewage and Septage Treatment Plant (DDSSTP) also treats the septage generated by more than four million customers in the northern part of the west concession.
The project involves the refurbishment of laboratory facilities, renovation of the existing power house and hazardous waste storage facility, and rehabilitation of the building and offices at the facility.
“Maynilad’s wastewater infrastructure network currently includes 17 sewage treatment plants, two sewage and septage treatment plants, one septage treatment plant, 42 pumping stations, 21 lift stations, and more than 500 kilometers of sewer lines,” the company said.
DDSSTP is the first facility of its kind in Asia Pacific to attain triple international standard accreditations on Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2000) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001:2004) in January 2007, and Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems (OHSAS 18001:2007).
Maynilad serves certain portions of the cities of Manila, Quezon and Makati. It also covers Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon in Metro Manila.
Outside the Philippine capital, it serves the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite province.
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
