Manila Water boosts water supply on Boracay

A new submarine water pipeline in Boracay is expected to be completed by the end of this month, in time for the surge in tourist arrivals on the island, Ayala-led Manila Water Co. Inc. said in a statement Tuesday.

Boracay Island Water Co., a joint venture between Manila Water Co. and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), will lay the pipeline.

Manila Water said the P126-million submarine pipeline project would address Boracay’s growing demand for water as the local government on the island expects the number of visitors to exceed more than a million this year.

Tourist arrivals have been steadily growing in recent years. In 2011, Boracay hosted 908,874 tourists—up from 17 percent reported the previous year.

The kilometer-long submarine pipe will augment an existing line built during the time of the Philippine Tourism Authority (which is now called Tieza).

Once completed, additional water supply is expected to reach the farther and more elevated parts of the island. It is also expected to provide water to other communities on the island, part of Boracay Island Water’s “Tubig para sa Barangay” program.

Manila Water said that since it took over operations in the island in January 2010, Boracay Water had been successful in improving water supply. Availability of water is now at 96 percent compared with only 60 percent in 2010.

Average pressure has more than doubled at 34 pounds per square inch, enough to reach a four-story building without using a pump, the water services provider said.