Manila Water unit expands services in Aklan province

MANILA, Philippines - Boracay Island Water Inc., a unit of Manila Water Co. Inc., has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the provincial government of Aklan for the expansion of its services in the province.

The company currently serves three barangays in the municipality of Malay and is looking at expanding its services to the entire province.

Boracay Water general manager Joseph Michael Santos said efficient water service is a key component in sustaining tourism and other economic activities in the province.

“Since it started operations in 2010, Boracay Water has shown its support for Aklan’s continued development by implementing projects amounting to over P1 billion, centered on improving the provision of water and used water services in its concession area,” Santos said.

“With the joint understanding, projects for the domestic, commercial and industrial water requirements in Aklan will soon be established,” he added.

Boracay Water is currently financing two major projects on the island with a total cost of P600 million. One is the Nabaoy water transmission line that is seen to increase water supply on the island from 14.5 million liters per day to 20 million liters per day by the end of the year.

The other is the Manoc Manoc Sewer Network and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)— seen for completion in 2016— that would increase wastewater treatment coverage in Boracay island to 75 percent from 35 percent.

Boracay Water is the joint venture company of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and Manila Water.

It is one of the two water utility firms serving potable water to barangays Manoc-Manoc, Balabag and Yapak in Boracay Island. It sources water from the Nabaoy River in mainland Aklan.

Boracay Water said in the next two to three years, Aklan is seen to benefit from an estimated P20 billion worth of public and private investments with agriculture, tourism and manufacturing sectors as projected key growth areas.