MPIW unveils infra projects to improve water services

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW), which provides water distribution services to Iloilo City and neighboring Iloilo province towns, officially inaugurated four projects in Jaro and Mandurriao districts that aim to improve services to eight barangays by enhancing distribution and preventing further losses.

MPIW inaugurated the recently completed pipelaying expansion, bridge crossing construction, and district metering area establishment projects which cost around P102 million.

The projects will benefit 5,000 households in barangays Lanit, San Isidro, and Dungon A in Jaro, and Sta. Rosa, PHHC Block 17, PHHC Block 22, Dungon C, and Bakhaw in Mandurriao.

The firm also broke ground for a 2.4-kilometer pipe replacement and upgrading of distribution lines in barangays General Hughes, Sto. Rosario-Duran, Veterans Village, Monica Blumentrit and Legaspi Dela Rama, City Proper district,

The project formally starts this April and is expected to benefit 250 households.

These projects were on top of 11 kilometers of new water pipes that were laid down in the last quarter of 2021, expanding the total water distribution line to 443 kilometers.

In a statement, MPIW Chief Operating Officer Robert Cabiles said that the projects’ success is attributable to the Iloilo City government and the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).

“We faced several challenges in completing the project due to restrictions brought about by COVD-19 but with the help of Iloilo City Government, MIWD, and our local partners we were able to complete the projects successfully allowing more people to receive potable water supply.”

“We are certain that our communities are happy with the improved water service and increased water pressure, and we will still continue to expand our pipe network so that more people can have access to water most especially to those still-unserved and underserved areas,” he added.

During the ceremony, MPW President and Chief Executive Officer Rogelio Singson explained that the DMAs have helped them to understand how to address water connection issues in their coverage area.

“To understand better the whole MIWD network, we’ve divided them into what we call DMAs (sic), so we can see where the water goes and how many customers are losing water and where they are lost. Because of the establishment of DMAs, we’ve seen that the most, more than half, is lost in Jaro [district],” Singson explained.

“We would be doing major pipe replacements so that the water being lost because of leakage, and other issues with pipelines and meters, would be addressed well, so we would be improving [water services] and reducing what we call ‘non-revenue water’ which is very expensive because they are already treated water,” he added.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said that the projects with the MPIW is part of the city government’s commitment to make sure that water supply would be vast, clean, and safe down to the smallest communities.

“These projects will not only benefit the people in the community, but will also attract more investors highlighting the growth our economy. […] These speaks of volumes of how we have improved as a city and how we continuously grow for the benefit of our people,” said the mayor.

MPIW is a joint venture project of the Manuel Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Water and the Metro Iloilo Water District that was launched in 2019.

MPIW serves Iloilo City and the municipalities of Oton, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin, San Miguel, Pavia and Leganes.