Maynilad mulls P2.5-B expansion of Putatan water treatment plant

MANILA, Philippines - West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is prepared to invest an additional P2.5 billion to increase the capacity of its Putatan water treatment plant, which was inaugurated Thursday.

Maynilad chairman Manuel V. Pangi-linan said they have invested P1.4 billion for the plant which has an initial capacity of 100 million liters per day (MLD) servising 1.2 million customers.

Pangilinan said the company is willing to invest another P2.5 billion to expand the facility’s capability to 300 MLD.

Maynilad’s Putatan treatment plant is the first water treatment facility that taps into Laguna Lake as an alternative to Angat Dam.

It is the largest membrane-based water treatment plant in the Philippines and is also the first of its kind in the country to use large-scale microfiltration and reverse osmosis.

The facility is a vital part of Maynilad’s plan to develop alternative sources of water to ensure long-term water security for its customers.

Pangilinan said “Putatan represents the first significant bulk water supply source for the Greater Manila outside Angat dam... but it will not be the last.”

Pangilinan said “Putatan is only one part of Maynilad’s water plan to seek and develop other locations of water, which can assure long-time supply security for our customers.”

President Aquino led the official unveiling of the water treatment plant, along with Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, officials from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Philippine National Railways (PNR), and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Parañaque and Muntinlupa local government officials, representatives from the US embassy, and the Maynilad board of directors.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. is owned and managed by DMCI-MPIC Water Co., Inc. (DMWCI), a joint venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and DMCI Holdings, Inc. (DMCIHI). The consortium took control of Maynilad on Jan. 24, 2007.

Maynilad serves the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the Districts of the Holy Spirit and Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon-all in Metro Manila; Cavite City, and the towns of Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario-all in Cavite Province.