Prime Infra targets delivery of first Wawa water by 2021

MANILA, Philippines — Prime Infra, the infrastructure company led by ports and casino tycoon Enrique Razon, targets to secure the nod of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) board next week for the Wawa project as it hopes to accelerate delivery of its first water.

Prime Infra said the project is calendared for MWSS board of trustees’ approval on May 9.

 “The Wawa water supply project is among the priority projects that was presented and submitted already by MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco to President Duterte. We look forward to the endorsement of MWSS to authorize its concessionaire, Manila Water, to move forward with this high priority project.“ said Razon, Prime Infra’s chairman and CEO.

Prime Infra has drawn up an aggressive plan to accelerate delivery of 80 million liters per day (MLD) of raw water supply by 2021. This will be further upgraded to over 500 MLD by 2025.

The results of the joint technical study between Wawa JVCO, the joint venture company of Prime Infra and the San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders Group of businessman Oscar Violago, and Manila Water, was presented to MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco last April 15.

It was subsequently presented to the MWSS trustees during their April 23 board meeting.

The study laid down an aggressive plan to ensure water supply security in Manila Water’s service area with the over 500 MLD new water source, accelerate water availability by immediately delivering 80 MLD by 2021, and provide operational flexibility and reliability to bring water where it is needed most.

Prime Infra hopes to break ground for the project by next year. The project involves the development of a water supply facility at the Wawa catchment area traversing the municipality of Rodriguez and city of Antipolo, both in the province of Rizal.

With the capacity, the water source is strategically located to serve the expansion areas of Manila Water, the east zone concessionaire of the MWSS.

Razon earlier said the proposed project is not an immediate fix, but rather a medium to long term solution and one of the fastest and most sustainable ways to solve the current water crisis.