Metro Pacific Water begins pipe works in San Jose del Monte

METRO PACIFIC Water (MPW), a subsidiary of Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp., has begun repair works and clearing critical pipelines in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, following the exit of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.

In a statement on Thursday, MPW said it addressed infrastructure problems, improving water supply for more than 3,500 households during its first two weeks as the city’s interim operator.

The company has repaired 29 pipeline leaks out of the 200 reported leaks across the city’s distribution network.

As a result, initial repairs have provided a 24-hour water supply to 507 households in the upper portion of Harmony Hills Subdivision, increased water availability to as much as 20 hours daily for 450 households in Phases 2 and 4 of Dela Costa Homes 3 in Graceville village, and up to 16 hours daily for 1,205 households in Gumaoc village.

The repair of a major transmission-line leak also improved water supply for 1,386 households in Phase 5, Towerville, Minuyan.

“The results of the initial repairs are encouraging, but we recognize that restoring the distribution network will take time. These problems accumulated over nearly a decade and addressing them will require sustained work. Nevertheless, the repairs completed so far represent a significant first step,” MPW President and Chief Executive Officer Andrew B. Pangilinan said.

Drawing from its initial technical assessment, the company said it found that a leak in the raw water inlet of Water Treatment Plant 2 has caused an estimated P150,000 in monthly bulk-water expenses paid to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

“At a time when water supply must be carefully managed, we cannot afford to pay for water that is lost before reaching households. Repairing these leaks is essential to conserve available supply, reduce unnecessary costs, and improve service reliability,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

Citing the City Government’s audit, only 10 of the 37 water pumping stations of the former operator were working. The baseline water quality testing and a treatment-process audit also identified unsafe practices requiring correction.

MPW said it is undertaking emergency repairs, water-delivery operations, and technical assessments while evaluating long-term investments in pipelines, pumping stations, and other critical water infrastructure with the city government to improve the water system.

In May, the City Government of San Jose del Monte has appointed MPW as its temporary partner interim operator for the water distribution operations of the water district.

MPW provides water services to about 860,000 residents across Iloilo City, Dumaguete City, and seven municipalities within its franchise areas.

MPIC is one of the three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., alongside Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

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