Maynilad eyes more service connections

MANILA, Philippines — West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. aims to install over 24,000 new water service connections this year in bid to expand its distribution network.

The company intends to bring potable water to some 167,000 additional customers in Valenzuela, Caloocan, Quezon City, Manila, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Bacoor, Imus, and Kawit in Cavite.

The targeted new connections are those living in subdivisions or open communities that still rely on deep wells and water vendors for their water supply needs.

Once connected to Maynilad’s network, these households will enjoy potable, piped-in water supply from Maynilad at a strong pressure ranging from seven to 16 pounds per square inch.

“Access to potable surface water should no longer be a problem to communities in our service area. We sustain efforts to connect more people to our network, even as we rehabilitate our distribution system to maintain 24-hour water supply at adequate pressure for current customers,” Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said.

Maynilad currently maintains some 1.4 million connections or about nine million people being serviced.

This is 54 percent higher than the 6.1 million customers the company served since its re-privatization in 2007.

This year, Maynilad allotted P728 million for its water expansion projects, which include the laying of new pipelines to connect unserved and under-served areas.

Maynilad is also investing P3.3 billion for the maintenance and repair of existing pipes and replacement of old ones, as part of initiatives to enhance service levels.