By Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco (Ret.)
Former President Fidel V. Ramos once wrote “What greater needs of the people are there than those which would guarantee their survival and their enjoyment of good health, long life, and security than food and water? Water, most of all!”
We Filipinos are fortunate as our country has adequate water resources. According to the Philippine Development Plan, our country has a total of 421 principal and 18 major river basins and renewable water totaling 479 billion cubic meters (bcm) from which water can be drawn for beneficial use.
However, the abundance of water resources is not a guarantee that everyone will have adequate water where and when needed. Most Filipinos take water for granted despite water being very much part of our daily lives. Water is either being wasted, polluted, or devalued; the lack of concern for the commodity by those who have access to it is part of the problem of the shortageof adequate, safe and clean water.
This problem has become an urgent issue especially in Metro Manila and its environs where gaps in water services remain pointedly felt.
The privatization of MWSS
The real-life threatening situation due to lack of potable water back in the 1990s prompted then President Ramos to enact the Water Crisis Act. His issuance of Executive Order No. 311 on March 20, 1996 paved the way for the privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, a heavily indebted agency incapable of viable operations. The EO authorized MWSS to enter into arrangements involving private sector participation in aspects of MWSS operations or facilities. I always refer to the privatization of MWSS as a master stroke of a genius by no less than former President Fidel V. Ramos.
The successful legal framework of the PPP between MWSS and the concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water, is now being replicated in other parts of the country and also in our ASEAN neighbors like Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Under the Public-Private Partnership scheme, the first water infrastructure project to be inaugurated in the Duterteadministration was completed. Started during the term of President Benigno S. Aquino III, the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project’s two phases are now operational. It is an undertaking of MWSS’ third concessionaire, the Luzon Clean Water Development Corporation, a consortium of San Miguel Holdings, Inc. and K-Water Resources.
Water supply issues
The problem of water shortage felt early this year demonstrated what would happen if no new water infrastructure projects are pursued.
MWSS concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad currently provides for the water requirement of 6.8 million and 9.5-million people, respectively.
Imagine an ever-increasing water requirement for agricultural, industrial and domestic use dependent on a single water source—Angat Dam.
Angat Dam, constructed in 1967 and operationalized the following year underwent massive rehabilitation to ensure its structural integrity in case of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Being the source of 97 percent of raw water for Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, destruction of Angat Dam would greatly affect energy, food and water supply.
As an alternative water source to Angat Dam, Maynilad in 2010 began sourcing raw water from Laguna Lake—the biggest freshwater basin in the country. Maynilad now produces 250 MLD of potable water, using supply drawn from the lake.
Wastewater concerns
Aside from water shortage, we are grappling with the challenge of treating our wastewater before this is discharged back to the environment. Critics have lashed at our concessionaires for the lack of sewerage systems.
Let me assure you that MWSS has directed both Manila Water and Maynilad to continuously intensify their respective campaign for proper wastewater management.
East Zone concessionaire Manila Water has a Used Water Master Plan to implement its wastewater management program.
Manila Water currently operates and maintains 38 sewage treatment plants from only one in 1997. The total capacity of the STPs is 308.87 MLD from only 40 MLD in 1997. It operates two septage treatment plants) located in San Mateo and FTI with a total capacity of 1.40 MLD. Two of its largest sewage treatment plants to date are the Taguig North and Marikina North Sewage Treatment Plants, the most recent additions to its waste water facilities. Discharge from these treatment plants has consistently passed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) effluent quality standards. Manila Water has a sewer network of 376.97 kms.
Likewise, West Zone concessionaire Maynilad has a Sewerage Master Plan to implement wastewater management within its service area.
Maynilad operates 22 wastewater facilities—up from only two in 1997—and manages over 588 kilometers of sewer lines. Its STPs and SpTPs have a combined treatment capacity of about 663 MLD of wastewater per day. More recent additions to its facilities are the Pasay and Parañaque STPs, the latter one being the first large-scale Biological Nutrient Removal-compliant facility in the country. Currently, Maynilad is building more new STPs and conveyance systems in Valenzuela, Cavite City, and in Tunasan and Cupang in Muntinlupa.
Water infrastructure roadmap
I began my stewardship of MWSS in February 2017 under heavy constraint because of the impending water supply problems.
A study by UP-NEC in 2011 which was the basis of the MWSS Water Security Infrastructure Roadmap 2016-2037 showed that existing water supply would be insufficient to meet projected demand unless water development projects are realized. Without buffer, the supply-demand projection showed that by 2021, supply would be unable to meet demand. By 2031, the deficit is projected at 1,448 MLD ballooning to 2,280 MLD by 2037.
It is thus imperative to break away from the very cautious posture of the past leadership that paid no attention to the impending problem despite identified infrastructure projects.
MWSS recognizes water problems will persist and the necessity of pursuing vigorously water infrastructure projects.
Under its water security program are water infrastructure projects that will provide alternative water supply to the existing Angat water system. MWSS has reoriented its priorities and adopted short-term, medium-term and long-term raw water sources that will provide potable and sustainable water supply in the next 5, 10 and even 50 years with at an increase of at least 1,518 MLD by 2022 at the end of President Duterte’s term.
Being fast-tracked under the new water security roadmap are the following projects: 150 MLD Putatan (2019); 100 MLD Cardona (2019); 188 MLD Sumag (2020); 50 MLD Rizal Wellfield (2020); 80 MLD Calawis Wawa (2021); 100 MLD Putatan 3 (2022); and 250 MLD Lower Ipo. These, aside from the 600 MLD Kaliwa Dam projects whose implementation was began in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2023.
Identified as medium-term water source projects from 2023 to 2027 are the following: 420 MLD Wawa Dam; 250 MLD East Bay; 350 MLD Bayabas Dam; 550 MLD Angat NorzagarayPhase 2; 250 MLD East Bay; 750 MLD Sierra Madre; and 1,800 MLD Kanan River Phase 1.
To complement the New Water Security Roadmap (2019-2022), there is a need to fast track the completion of Aqueduct 6 and Tunnel 4, both started during the Duterte Administration by the present MWSS Board and Management. The two projects are expected to be operationalized by January 2020.
MWSS also expects to complete by June 2022, Aqueduct 7 and Tunnel 5 which are now on stream to provide another 1,600 MLD to flow towards La Mesa. The completion of these aqueducts and tunnel system will optimize the flow of excess water from Angat to La Mesa Dam.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between MWC and Prime Metroline Infrastructure Holdings Inc. to pursue the development of a water supply source east of Metro Manila—the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project.
The success of these projects’ implementation needs the support of the private sector. Let us work together to ensure water conservation and security.
Let me end with a quote from former President Ramos: “Waterwill define our collective prospects for environmental sustainability over countless generations still to come.”
Gen. Velasco is the Administrator of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. These remarks were delivered at The Wallace Business Forum Roundtable held July 30 at the Makati Shangri-la.
