By Ben Cal/PNA
MANILA — Manila Water and Maynilad, the two leading water concessionaires of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), have thrown their full support for the PHP12.2 billion New Centennial Water Supply Project-Kaliwa Dam that will supply additional 600 million liters daily (MLD) to Metro Manila and nearby provinces starting 2023.
“Manila Water strongly supports the Water Security advocacy of MWSS and the recent creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) to develop the Water Supply Masterplan for both East and West Zones to sustain national development,” Manila Water president and chief executive officer (CEO) Ferdinand M. dela Cruz said in a statement over the weekend.
“Given the 96 percent dependency of Metro Manila on Angat Dam, we underscore the urgency of building new water sources, including the already approved Kaliwa Dam project. We will continue to work with MWSS and other related agencies in updating the much-needed masterplan to address the future demand of the metropolis,” dela Cruz added.
MWSS said the three other areas which will get additional water supply are Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan.
This water security project is part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” program.
For his part, Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said the project is in line with “government efforts to ensure water supply sustainability and reliability for Metro Manila residents. It is an additional raw water source that will augment the supply from Angat Dam, which is currently the only major source being tapped.”
Fernandez said the construction of the new dam is essential to meeting the water needs of an ever-growing population for the long term as it will also alleviate Metro Manila’s reliance on a single raw water source.
“Maynilad affirms the need for developing this new water source and is committed to support the MWSS in implementing the project,” Fernandez said.
Meanwhile, MWSS thanked the officials of Manila Water and Maynilad for their unequivocal statements of support to the Kaliwa Dam project as this is part of the overall water security program of the Duterte administration.
Stressing that the MWSS is on a catch-up mode to avert water crisis in the coming years, Velasco credited the Duterte administration for having the political will and resolve to help solve the possible water shortage in the coming years in Metro Manila and its environs since no new surface water source was developed after Angat Dam.
The PHP12.2 billion Kaliwa Dam project will be funded by the PHP10.2 billion China ‘s Official Development Assistance and a counterpart fund of PHP2-billion from the Philippine government.
The formal signing of the contract between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jing Pin is scheduled on Nov. 20 and the construction will be undertaken by China Energy Engineering Corporation and is expected to be completed in 2023 or earlier.
