Former MWSS chief named new Maynilad president/CEO

MANILA, Philippines — Maynilad Water Services Inc. has appointed a former Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) chair as its next president and CEO beginning next year.

The Pangilinan-led water service provider named Ramon Alikpala as its next director, president and CEO amid the retirement of Ramoncito Fernandez on Dec. 31, 2026.

Fernandez has served the company since 2016, where he steered the company into its initial public offering, the execution of its revised concession agreement and the granting of Maynilad’s 25-year legislative franchise.

He also held several positions at First Pacific Group’s other businesses since 1997.

Alikpala will now serve as the head of Maynilad starting Jan. 1, 2027, bringing with him extensive experience in the water sector. These include leading the National Water Resources Board as executive director and serving as chair of the MWSS Board of Trustees.

The incoming Maynilad official said he would focus on strengthening the company’s preparation against El Niño, overall water supply security and further investments in system improvements.

“It’s making sure that our customers get the operational commitment they expect from Maynilad. What we’re preparing for is not just the El Niño but also water security for many of our customers in the long term,” he told reporters.

“We want to make sure that we continue investing in improving the systems and expanding our services,” Alikpala added.

Aside from government service, he also previously served as CEO of FutureWater Asia, supporting governments and utilities in addressing water and sanitation challenges, and as a member of the board of the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines.

“This leadership transition helps Maynilad continue its progress over the years. Our management team is strong, and our investment program is well established,” Maynilad chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a separate statement.

He added that under Alikpala’s leadership, the company would be in a good position to follow through on its goal to strengthen water security and develop resilient water infrastructure.

The announcement comes as the company logged a 10.2 percent increase in net income in the first nine months of 2026, reaching P12.6 billion as lower costs cushioned higher operating expenses.

Meanwhile, revenues went up by 3.5 percent to P28.6 billion from P27.7 billion, driven by operational improvements, higher billed volumes and sustained customer growth.

The water service provider’s billed volumes reached an all-time high of 423.3 million cubic meters in the January to September period, while billed connections grew to 1.59 million.

Maynilad COO Christopher Jaime Lichauco said the higher billed volumes were the result of lower non-revenue water (NRW) levels during the period. NRW narrowed to 29.3 percent as of the end of September 2026 from 32.8 percent last year.

Capital expenditures reached P19.5 billion, supporting the company’s water service infrastructure, production facilities, customer service improvements and network efficiency and reliability.

The company targets a capex of P27.5 billion for 2027, a reduction from the P34.6 billion allocated for this year.