Maynilad, MWC to spend P67B on sewerage systems

Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. are seeking regulators’ green light to spend a combined P67 billion to build sewerage systems across the Greater Manila Area over the next five years.

Patrick N. Ty, chief of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s Regulatory Office, said in an interview both Maynilad and Manila Water have submitted for approval their business proposals for the 2018-2022 period.

Based on their respective proposals, Maynilad wants to spend on waste water facilities P30.19 billion for the five-year period while Manila Water is looking at P37.44 billion.

“These amounts are about one-third of proposed five-year capital expenditures program for both concessionaires,” Ty said.

“For the next 18 years or until the end of their concessions in 2036, Maynilad proposes to spend a total of P131.65 billion while Manila Water wants to spend P153.44 billion,” he added.

For the next five years alone, Maynilad’s proposed sewerage capex would add 320 million liters per day (MLD) of sewerage treatment capacity.

Maynilad, whose current management has been at the helm since 2007, has 30 existing sewerage facilities—costing P26.43 billion—that can process a total of 541 MLD.

Manila Water, under the same management since 1997, has about P12 billion worth of sewerage facilities that have an aggregate capacity of 312 MLD.

“The environmental situation in Boracay [Island] is hogging the headlines these days, but the situation in Metro Manila has been far worse for a long time,” Ty said.

“Just look at how dirty the bodies of water are—Manila Bay, Pasig River, and Marikina River,” Ty said. “The MWSS wants this addressed, and treating wastewater is one way to do that.”

With the proposed sewerage capex, Maynilad aims to raise its sewerage coverage from 13 percent of its concession area to 47 percent by 2021. Manila Water’s goal is from 14 percent now to 39 percent by 2021.

Ty said the MWSS-RO was expected to come out with a decision on the proposed business plans of Maynilad and Manila Water “by July or August.”