Boracay Water earmarks P240M capex for 2024

Razon-led Boracay Island Water Co. will set aside P240 million for its capital expenditure (Capex) projects in 2024, mainly to build critical infrastructure intended to improve services on one of the country’s major tourist destinations.

Boracay Water, a subsidiary of Manila Water Philippine Ventures and a concessionaire of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, said in a statement it would rehabilitate the Manocmanoc Reservoir and Bolabog pumping station in Aklan province.

The company will also replace water pipes within its network on Boracay Island.

At the same time, Boracay Water plans on investing P50 million for the upgrade of the Balabag sewage treatment plan “to add the removal of biological nutrients in wastewater treatment.”

A total of P15 million, meanwhile, will be allocated to the second and third phase of Project Monsoon, its free sewer connection program.

Boracay Water said that this year, it aims to connect 912 households located within 100 meters from available sewer networks.

The company also seeks to connect to the network 1,860 households within a five-year period.

‘Proactive approach’

“Boracay Water’s substantial investment reflects a proactive approach to contribute to the island’s long-term environmental sustainability, especially on the nonstop influx of foreign and local tourists,” the company added.

Boracay Water previously said it allocated P1.1 billion to fund its five-year water and wastewater service improvement plan on the island.

The island suffered a major economic blow in 2018 after then President Rodrigo Duterte called the tourist destination a “cesspool,” prompting a six-month shutdown for rehabilitation.

Data from the Malay municipal tourism office show that Boracay welcomed 2.1 million tourists in 2023, up 20 percent from 1.75 million in 2022. —Meg J. Adonis INQ