JOINT VENTURE. Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWS) and the Metro Pacific Water (MPW) signed on Thursday (December 6, 2018) a PHP12.35 billion joint venture project to improve services in seven municipalities and one city covered by the MIWD franchise. (Photo by Cindy Ferrer)
ILOILO CITY -- The Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) and the Metro Pacific Water (MPW) signed on Thursday the PHP12.35-billion joint venture project that would pave the way for a 25-year concession to rehabilitate, expand and improve water distribution and wastewater management in Iloilo province.
Signing the agreement were Dr. Teodoro Robles, chairman of MIWD’s board, and lawyer Laurence Rogero, president of MPW, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).
In his speech, MPIC President Jose Ma. Lim, described the signing of the agreement as a testament to their commitment to Iloilo.
“As the country’s leading infrastructure investment company, with interests across several infrastructure sectors, we bring with us expertise and innovations in infrastructure that will underpin growth of the city’s economy and impact the lives of millions of people,” he said.
Ramoncito Fernandez, MPW director, said they will start the works by upgrading the existing facilities of MIWD and build new infrastructure to improve the services of the local water utility.
First, Fernandez said, the joint venture project will work on expanding the service coverage utility.
“Not all homes and businesses across Iloilo city and seven municipalities of Iloilo are connected to the water district but through the various efficiency measures and investment in new pipes, we hope to bring 20 percent coverage closer to 100 percent by the end of the concession,” he said.
Fernandez also said that they will work with MIWD to address the non-revenue water levels in the system by installing new technology to detect leaks more accurately and improve response time in repairing leaks.
He added that they wanted to work with MIWD and the local government unit in addressing the growing industrial demand for water fueled by economic growth in the city and province of Iloilo.
“As we provide our communities with a safe, clean and continuous supply of water, we are equipping them with the potential to attract new businesses,” Fernandez said.
“At last, we have a solution,” said Senator Franklin Drilon as he welcomed the joint venture project in his keynote message while recalling the city’s dilemma of lack of water supply and other water problems that hindered the developments here.
Drilon said the insufficient supply and inefficient water delivery system had been a problem for more than 840,000 residents of Iloilo City and the surrounding municipalities of Maasin, Sta. Barbara, Pavia, San Miguel, Oton and Leganes, which are the franchise areas of MIWD.
“Only 30 percent of the 840,000 residents of these franchise areas are being served, that is why it is very critical to provide solutions to the problem,” he said.
However, Drilon expressed hope that the joint venture project would be the start of solving these problems, given projections that the city’s demand for water would rise to almost 94,000 cubic meters in four years.
“Hence, there is an urgent need to look for solutions. This is not for us, not for Metro Pacific but for the Ilonggos,” he said.
The signing of the joint venture agreement was held at the Grand Xing Imperial hotel in this city. (PNA)
