Philippines lines up $2.4bn water infrastructure projects

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), a government agency responsible for water privatisation in Metro Manila, Philippines, has lined up major water infrastructure projects worth PHP100bn ($2.4bn).

MWSS will execute the projects in 2013, in an attempt to ensure that water supply security is achieved in the country.

Celebrating the 135th anniversary of the agency, MWSS revealed its medium-term strategy called the Water Security Legacy Plan.

MWSS administrator Gerardo Esquivel was quoted by Inquirer Business as saying that the agency will conduct final feasibility studies on three major projects and is expecting them to roll out by the second half of 2013.

"[There’s a] paradigm shift in water service delivery as it transforms MWSS’ mandate-driven initiatives from mere water distribution to a deliverer of lasting water supply security," Esquivel added.

As a part of the Water Security Legacy Plan, the agency has proposed to build a new water dam to be used as a ‘redundant water source’ to Angat Dam.

Construction of the new dam at the Kaliwa-Kanan River Basin in Tanay, Rizal, is estimated to cost $1.8bn.

The new dam is expected to provide 1.9 billion litres of water per day to Metro Manila.

Metro Manila is 97% dependent on the Angat Dam for water supply and MWSS is proposing a security dam, an alternative source of
water for the residents of the region.

MWSS said it intends to design the dam as a multipurpose dam with hydro-power and flood-mitigating components.

In addition, the agency plans to invest PHP15bn ($369m) in Bulacan bulk water supply project in the province of Bulacan to provide water to 22 districts.

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Image: Angat Dam in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. Photo: Courtesy of Ramon FVelasquez.