MPIW ACTIVATES EL NIÑO MITIGATION

ILOILO CITY — Metro Pacific Iloilo Water held a press conference on May 20, 2026, to assure the public that it is fully prepared for the El Niño season ahead. With PAGASA placing a 79% probability of El Niño conditions emerging as early as June to August 2026 at light effect, building to medium effect by August to September, and peaking in October 2026, MPIW Chief Operating Officer Angelo David C. Berba presented the company’s comprehensive plan to keep water flowing reliably to every household across Metro Iloilo.

“We have assessed every possible supply scenario and prepared a response for each one. The plans are in place and the resources are ready,” Berba said.

Tankers and efforts

MPIW has a structured framework with preplanned response protocols for every supply scenario. Bulk water supply coordination has been completed, static tanks have been deployed and disinfected, and valving simulations have been conducted. More than 20 water tankers are on standby, supported by 24-hour monitoring teams, with continuous leak detection ongoing. A public information campaign is running through social media, radio, barangay postings, and flyer distribution.

Expanding water supply this year

Construction of MPIW’s modular desalination facilities is well underway at two sites in the city: Barangay Nabitasan in La Paz and Ateneo de Iloilo. These facilities will convert seawater and brackish water into safe, treated water delivered directly to Iloilo homes, adding 2 million liters per day to the network, enough to serve 2,000 households every day.

“The modular desalination facilities are under active construction. Once online, they will deliver an additional 2 million liters of treated water per day directly to Iloilo households,” Berba said.

Projects to recover 10 MLD within the year

MPIW’s PHP 5 billion capital expenditure budget covers 50 projects and 142 kilometers of pipeline from 2026 to 2027, with PHP 4.4 billion directed at service improvement and non-revenue water reduction. Eleven pipeline projects are underway across Iloilo City and surrounding municipalities, progressively strengthening supply and service reliability across the network. Among these are non-revenue water recovery projects at various locations across the service area, targeting a combined recovery of up to 10 MLD of water that is currently lost to leaks and commercial losses.

“This investment is about ensuring consistent, reliable service for Metro Iloilo now and as the city continues to grow,” Berba added. (Advertorial)