Maynilad spends P14 B for wastewater project

MANILA, Philippines — West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. has invested P14 billion in capital expenditure to expand sewerage coverage since its re-privatization 11 years ago.

The Pangilinan-led company said the investment went into the construction of 15 new sewage treatment plants, one sewage and septage treatment plant, and another separate septage treatment plant.

Maynilad also spent for the rehabilitation of existing wastewater facilities, acquisition of new vacuum trucks for septic tank cleaning, and installation of 27.5 kilometers of new sewer lines, among others.

When Maynilad took over the west concession in 2007, sewerage coverage was only at six percent and there were only two operating STPs.

“We have since expanded coverage to 16 percent as of June 2018. Much still needs to be done, and we are doing our best to facilitate completion of our sewerage projects despite right-of-way conflicts, permit issuance delays, and lot acquisition issues,” Maynilad’s Wastewater Management head Antonio Garcia said.

Maynilad targets to attain 100 percent sewerage coverage by the end of its 30-year concession period by 2037.

Furthermore, Maynilad is constructing additional STPs in Pasay, Parañaque, Valenzuela, Cavite City, and Tunasan and Cupang in Muntinlupa.

Once completed in 2020, Maynilad will be able to increase sewerage coverage in the West Zone to 26 percent.

Meanwhile, areas that are not connected to Maynilad’s sewer network are being provided septic tank cleaning services.

“We urge our customers to avail of this service every five to seven years, because it is essential to protect community health and the environment,” Garcia said.

This year, Maynilad has allotted P1.7 billion for wastewater projects to maintain the reliability of the wastewater network and sustain operations.

“It is a challenge for us to facilitate the completion of wastewater projects, given the impact to traffic of laying new conveyance systems. These projects are important so we can catch harmful effluents before discharge to the environment,” Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said.

Currently, the water company operates 17 STPs, two sewage and septage plants, and one septage plant with a combined treatment capacity of an estimated 542,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day.

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.

Maynilad is owned and managed by Maynilad Water Holdings Co. Inc. a joint venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corp., DMCI Holdings Inc., and Marubeni Corp.