Boracay Water allots P108 million for free sewer connections

MANILA, Philippines — Boracay Island Water Co. has allotted P108 million to level up sanitation and sustainability in the premier island destination.

The non-east zone unit of Manila Water Co. Inc. aims to provide free mandatory sewer connection to 1,860 households in its service area under the budget.

To achieve the project, the water company launched Project Monsoon to implement free sewer connections for all its residential customers living within 60-100 meters from the nearest available sewer network.

Project Monsoon also intends to address the illegal pilferage of rainwater downspout of its residential and commercial customers to the sewer network that results to manhole overflowing during the rainy season, through the inclusion of penalties in Malay local government unit’s Municipal Order 307.

Under the Phase 1 implementation of the project, 65 families from Barangay Manocmanoc and Balabag were given the free service, in collaboration with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority-Regulatory Office (TIEZA-RO) and Local Government of Malay.

Boracay Water conceptualized Project Monsoon to solve several sanitation issues in Boracay Island, in accordance with Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

During summer, the growth of algae in the coastline of Boracay is usually noted, with one of the roots identified is the discharge of untreated wastewater due to absence or substandard septic tanks.

With the residents’ septic tanks directly connected to Boracay Water’s sewer network, wastewater from these households is guaranteed to be properly collected and treated in the company’s sewage treatment plants before being discharged to the water bodies in Boracay.

This in compliance with the effluent standards set by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Boracay Water also encourages establishments to connect to the available sewer network of the company to ensure sustainability and protection of the island’s pristine beaches.

Currently, Boracay Water has two centralized sewage treatment facilities in Boracay Island that could treat 11.5 million liters of wastewater per day.

Boracay Water is a public-private partnership between the TIEZA and Manila Water’s wholly owned subsidiary, Manila Water Philippine Ventures.