By Ben Cal/PNA
MANILA – The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) on Sunday said the completion of the PHP1.7-billion Parañaque water reclamation facility (WRF) of Maynilad will greatly help in cleaning Manila Bay of pollutants and other stagnant environment wastes.
“We are happy with the completion of this modern water reclamation facility three years after it was started,” MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency.
“I commend both Maynilad and Parañaque City for remaining steadfast in pushing for this flagship project, despite protestations and brickbats from motorists, as this project is not only as means to comply to the Supreme Court mandamus to clean Manila Bay but more so for the overall benefit of the people,” Velasco added.
The Parañaque water facility, which is Maynilad’s largest sewerage treatment plant (STP) in terms of processing capacity, is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
At the same time, the Parañaque city government has a 92-percent compliance in terms of sewer connections that underscore the efforts of stakeholders in cleaning up Manila Bay and nearby tributaries of environmental wastes.
The new STP facility, which was completed last week, is located in San Dionisio, Parañaque City.
The opening was witnessed by MWSS Chairman Franklin Demonteverde, MWSS RO Chief Patrick Ty, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez, Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez, JICA official Yoshio Wada, Development Bank of the Philippines President and CEO Cecilia Borromeo, and other members of the MWSS Board of Trustees.
“The success story of the Maynilad Water Reclamation Facility completion and the 92 percent compliance rate of Parañaque City to sewer connectivity, including its firm resolve to clear more than 5,000 out of the 8,000 informal settlers living along esteros and rivers in the city should now become the template for all other local government units covered by our concessionaires,” Velasco said.
For his part, Olivarez said “this is very important step in our collective efforts to help you protect our environment, which is one of the pillars of governance agenda in the city to be business-friendly, and at the same time environment-friendly.”
Olivarez added that the start of operation of the Parañaque Water Reclamation Facility is “timely” because of the renewed drive to fast-track the rehabilitation and cleanup of Manila Bay, led by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.
“With this water facility, we will now be able to remove pollutants from the wastewater being collected from Maynilad costumers in Parañaque before these are discharged to the waterways that eventually end up in Manila Bay,” said Olivarez.
