Maynilad Water Services, Inc has said it is allocating more than P6 billion (SGD $160 million) for the installation of 30 kilometres (km) of sewer lines in Las Piñas City this year.
In a statement, the west zone concessionaire said the 30km conveyance will be implemented in the fourth quarter. This project is part of a planned 80km sewage system for Las Piñas.
Maynilad said it will use a “trenchless” method for the project to lessen the impact of pipe diggings on traffic.
The sewage system, once completed by 2021, allow Maynilad to “catch wastewater generated by some 600,000 customers in 20 barangays in the city, and convey it to the Las Piñas Water Reclamation Facility for proper treatment.”
Construction on the Las Piñas facility began in March this year and will be finished by 2021. The facility will comply with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards of 2016 (DAO 2016-08).
“We are determined to do our part in ensuring the proper treatment and disposal of wastewater in our concession area. Our commitment is such that we have allotted the largest portion of this year’s capital expenditure budget to wastewater management for programs aimed to protect the health and sanitation of our customers and the environment,” Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez was quoted as saying.
Maynilad is also installing sewer lines in Valenzuela, Cavite City, and Barangays Cupang and Tunasan in Muntinlupa City.
In August, the Supreme Court upheld fines totalling close to P2 billion (SGD $140 million) on Maynilad, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and east zone concessionaire Manila Water Company, Inc. for violations of an environmental law.
The case stemmed from the fine of P29.4 million (SGD $168,860) imposed by the DENR for non-compliance with the clean water law due to the concessionaires’ failure to finish sewerage projects by May 2009.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which has a 52.8 per cent interest in Maynilad, is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.
