SUPPLY GAP, PIPE LEAKS: MPIW ramps up big-ticket projects to address Iloilo water crisis

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Reamae Velasco, Daily Guardian Intern

Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW), the city’s major water distributor, continues to struggle in meeting Iloilo City’s rising water demand due to supply deficits and aging, leak-prone pipelines.

MPIW Chief Operating Officer Angelo David Berba said the company is investing in both short- and long-term infrastructure to deliver between 100 and 230 million liters per day (MLD) by 2028.

“We have a supply deficit of more than 100 MLD to meet Iloilo City’s full demand,” Berba said during a press conference last week.

As of now, MPIW’s household coverage in Iloilo City is just 27% due to the lack of available supply.

“It is so low because we can’t serve everyone yet—we are still waiting for the desalination plant and the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II),” he explained.

Berba also highlighted the urgent need to reduce non-revenue water (NRW), or water lost due to leaks, theft, or metering issues.

MPIW’s NRW currently stands between 45% and 47%.

Of the 800 kilometers of pipelines in MPIW’s system, only 27 kilometers have been rehabilitated.

Since operations began, the company has fixed 16,820 leaks, mostly from deteriorated pipelines.

“Now we’re still assessing how much more needs to be replaced,” Berba said, noting that many ongoing and planned projects are focused on pipe replacement across Iloilo.

To improve supply, MPIW has placed PHP400 million worth of orders with Japan’s Hitachi Group for modular water treatment plants.

These modular units will be installed in key areas with critical shortages, including the Iloilo Fish Port Complex, Prime Estate Subdivision in La Paz, and Arevalo.

MPIW is also pushing forward with its PHP3 billion medium-term capital expenditure plan, with PHP800 million allocated this year for six active projects covering 40 kilometers of upgraded pipelines.

Roughly 78% of this budget will go toward major rehabilitation and infrastructure upgrades.

Among the company’s flagship projects is the PHP655 million Iloilo City pipeline initiative, which includes the 11-kilometer HS Jaro Project (Phases 1 and 2) and the 15.12-kilometer Iloilo City Total Pipe Replacement Project.

Berba said an estimated 80% of NRW is caused by physical losses, such as leaks, while 20% is due to commercial losses like illegal connections and metering inaccuracies.

“We are asking for help from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the city government to expedite the HS Jaro Project,” he said.

“The automatic recovery of 10 MLD could significantly boost our current supply.”

As part of its medium-term solution, MPIW is constructing a state-of-the-art desalination plant in Ingore, which broke ground earlier this year.

Expected to be operational by late 2027, the facility will contribute an additional 65 MLD—nearly doubling MPIW’s current capacity.

Berba said the desalination rollout will go hand-in-hand with NRW reduction efforts.

“When desalinated water is injected into the system, we want NRW levels to be below 20%,” he said.

For long-term needs, MPIW continues to count on the JRMP II bulk water component.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. has submitted an unsolicited proposal to develop and operate the Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project, which would draw 80 to 86 MLD from JRMP II’s dam and 80-kilometer highline canal system.

Since 2019, MPIW has already invested PHP900 million in infrastructure.

Over the 25-year contract term, the company projects capital expenditures between PHP12 billion and PHP16 billion for rehabilitation, expansion, and NRW reduction.

From 2025 to 2028, MPIW plans to implement nearly PHP5 billion worth of projects, with PHP2.9 billion allocated for 2026 and PHP1.9 billion for 2027.

The company aims to reduce NRW to 23–25% by 2027, and eventually to below 20% after integrating desalinated water into its distribution system.

By the end of 2027, household coverage is expected to reach 50%, and could increase to 80–90% once the JRMP II becomes fully operational.