MANILA -- The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has expressed support in cleaning Manila Bay of environment wastes.
“This is a welcome move by all parties concerned led by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu,” MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco said in a statement recently.
Velasco vowed to work hard to ensure full compliance to the Supreme Court mandamus order among MWSS concessionaires, Manila Waters, and Maynilad.
He met with officials of the two concessionaires to discuss the fast-tracking of the high court’s order, and said he would ask them to adjust their targets for the years 2022-2037.
"As I have always emphasized in various fora, cleaning up Manila Bay is everybody’s concern to include ordinary Filipinos who must embrace self-discipline as a way of life,” Velasco said, adding that “the two concessionaires have agreed to fast-track their roadmap to full compliance to the SC mandamus.”
He admitted that only 15 percent of water consumers are connected to sewer lines and as provided in the concession agreement, full sewer and sanitation coverage should be 100 percent by 2037.
“There was much focus on securing delivery of efficient potable water system over the last 22 years from only 53 percent coverage to 97 percent coverage in metro Manila and adjoining provinces, such as Rizal and Cavite,” Velasco said.
“On sewer coverage alone, Manila Water started only with 3 percent in 1997 when it took over the East Zone. Now it has 20 percent coverage for facilities, which is seven times increased. Maynilad is now operating its PHP1.7-billion sewage treatment plant in San Dionisio, Parañaque as part of its stepped-up support for Manila Bay’s clean-up,” he said.
To implement its wastewater management program, East Zone concessionaire Manila Water has its Used Water Master Plan.
According to Manila Water President and CEO Ferdinand M. dela Cruz, as of end November last year, it has already installed 140,245 sewer connections since the start of its concession period, with 5,135 accounting for new sewer connections from January to November 2018.
Manila Water currently operates and maintains 38 sewage treatment plants (STP) and two septage treatment plants (SpTP).
Two of its large sewage treatment plants to date are the Taguig North and Marikina North Sewage Treatment Plants, the most recent additions to its waste water facilities.
Discharge from these treatment plants has consistently passed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) effluent quality standards.
“To date, Manila Water has spent PHP33 billion for used water from 1997 to 2018. It has programmed PHP36.8 billion from 2018 to 2022 and a total of PHP115 billion from 2018 to 2037 to be spent for used water infrastructure,” dela Cruz said.
On the other hand, West Zone concessionaire Maynilad increased its sewerage coverage to 20 percent as of end 2018 from only 6 percent in 2007 when it took over the concession, spending about PHP23.3 billion.
“We have a road map towards the attainment of 100 percent coverage by the end of the concession period, and we are working with our government partners to facilitate completion of our sewerage projects,” Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said.
Maynilad operates 19 sewage treatment plants, two sewage and septage treatment plants, and one septage treatment plant with a combined treatment capacity of an estimated 662,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day. It is building wastewater treatment facilities in Valenzuela, Cavite City and in Tunasan and Cupang in Muntinlupa.
Upon completion of the projects, sewerage coverage is expected to increase to 26 percent.
“Increasing sewerage coverage by just 1 percent requires an average investment of about PHP1.6 billion, so the level of investment to enhance the wastewater infrastructure is huge. Nevertheless, this is something we have to do to ensure environmental sustainability,” Fernandez said.
For areas not connected to sewer lines, both concessionaires offer free desludging services.
The concerted efforts by MWSS and its concessionaires, as well as other agencies come in the wake of a massive effort to rehabilitate Manila Bay to be spearheaded by the DENR.
The clean-up will affect all the cities surrounding the bay including Manila, Quezon City, Pasay, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasig, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Makati, Parañaque, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, and Pateros as well as local government units in eight provinces in Central Luzon and Calabarzon and establishments along its 194-km. coastline.
The rehabilitation aims to reduce the coliform level to 100 most probable numbers per 100 milliliters (MPN/100ml) or low enough for the bay to be safe for swimming from its current level of 333 million MPN/100ml.
The rehabilitation of Manila Bay is also in accordance with the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 or Republic Act No. 9275 whose coverage includes water quality management in all bodies of water, including the “abatement and control of pollution from land-based sources.”
MWSS is among 13 government agencies named in the SC continuing mandamus to report once every three months on the progress of the government clean-up of Manila Bay to make it swimmable. (PNA)
