Pilipinas Water Resources Inc. (PWR) downplayed impressions that its entry to the business will compete with the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD).
“We are not here to compete with MCWD, but rather to complement with their services. We are ready to provide water to areas that are not reached by MCWD because of distribution infrastructure problems,” said PWR director of the board Anastacio Muntuerto Jr.,
“The government could not do everything. There is a need for private sector participation. There is an opportunity for public-private sector participation in order to provide a very essential need such as water,” Muntuerto said.
Muntuerto, who is a former president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said that the creation of PWR is a gesture from the private sector, that it is willing to rescue Cebuanos from the inevitable water shortage in the future.
“The demand for water in Cebu is very urgent. We are even risking our investment here,” Muntuerto said.
At present, the company is developing several water sources around Cebu to provide water supply in rural areas, in partnership with the Local Government Units (LGUs).
With this, Muntuerto said MCWD could partner with PWR, as they are developing water sources, and MCWD could tap these projects.
The PWR is a consortium that was born with the main intention of challenging the P2-billion Carmen bulk water supply project of the Ayala-led consortium.
The company recently inaugurated its P1.6-hectare facility located in Talamban, Cebu.
The establishment of the facility, which initially houses PWR’s office and laydown area for water pipes, manifests the company’s commitment to continue to live with its mandate to provide water to the underserved, not only here but in the entire country, as well.
“With or without (winning) the bulk water supply bidding by the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), we started with this challenge and will move on with our plans,” added Muntuerto.
The MCWD has turned down Ayala’s unsolicited proposal, which cancelled the Swiss challenge.
According to Muntuerto, PWR is willing to participate if the MCWD will open the water supply for bidding. For now, the company’s focus is on its “barangayan” water project, a missionary project done in partnership with local government units of barangays and municipalities not reached with water supply.
PWR, a partnership between water expert Mactan Rock Industries and pawnshop magnate Michel Lhuillier group of companies gets its water supply from the sea, the rivers and wastewater.
It uses the desalination and wastewater treatment technologies to recycle and convert non-potable water to potable.
It is supplying water through desalination to Apo Island in Negros Oriental and Kinatarcan Island in Sta. Fe, Cebu. PWR is also supplying water, through the “barangayan” to barangays Bulacao and Busay in Cebu, Palawan, Bislig in Surigao del Sur and Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte. For its bulk water supply, its clients include Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, Panglao beach resorts and the Cebu Port Authority. PWR has also entered a contract to supply Balamban, Subangdaku, Buhisan, Tisa in Labangon, Mambaling, Canduman, Casuntingan, Guizo, Casili, Liloan, Estaca in Compostela, Candulawan, Mainggit in Toledo City, Dapa in Siargao island and in Aloguinsan, Cebu. – Ehda M. Dagooc