Maynilad investing P375 M to rehab Angat-Umiray tunnel

MANILA, Philippines — West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is pouring in P375 million to rehabilitate the state-owned Angat-Umiray trans-basin tunnel in Quezon.

The P749-million Angat-Umiray project, one of the common purpose facilities of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), is intended to ensure water security nationwide.

“Through sustained investments in water infrastructure enhancements, we can continue to meet the drinking water needs of an ever-growing population. We fully support the MWSS in this endeavour,” Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said.

The 13.4-kilometer trans-basin tunnel is used to convey raw water from the Umiray River to Angat River and is an important part of the water supply system of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, serving 90 percent of the population or about 16 million people.

Among the rehabilitation works and upgrades that will be implemented is the retrofitting of intake and diversionary structures to withstand the effects of inclement weather such as severe flooding.

The MWSS project will also add new features to the trans-basin tunnel for better resiliency, such as additional slope protection, and steel sheet piles along the weir.

The rehabilitation is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and will help secure the water supply of Metro Manila residents in the face of supply uncertainties brought about by climate change.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the country in terms of customer base. It serves the areas of Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, and certain portions of Manila, Quezon City, Makati and Cavite.