Maynilad aims to finish new sewer lines early next year

BW FILE PHOTO

WEST ZONE water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. plans to finish the installation of new sewer lines along two water esteros in Manila by the first quarter of 2021.

In a statement, Maynilad said it targets to complete the laying of 1.78 kilometers of sewer lines as part of its “Adopt an Estero” program.

The estero program involves the installation of new sewer lines along five creeks that will catch wastewater from Maynilad customers who could not be served by individual sewer connections.

Maynilad said the program is in support of the Manila Bay rehabilitation program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Facilitating this project has been a challenge given quarantine restrictions. Nonetheless, we continue to pursue our estero rehabilitation efforts because it will help to reduce pollution loading in Manila Bay,” Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randolph T. Estrellado said.

Since the program’s implementation in November 2018, Maynilad said it had installed 745 meters of interceptor pipes along Estero dela Reina and Estero San Antonio Abad that benefitted more than 19,400 residents.

“As long as solid waste can be managed well at the household level, it will not pollute these same esteros that we are trying to clean. That will ensure that our investment in new sewer lines will not go to waste,” Mr. Estrello said.

Meanwhile, the water provider said it is also constructing new sewerage treatment plants in Valenzuela City and Muntinlupa City to add to its 22 operational wastewater facilities.

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 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