The DILG-NCR, through the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program (MBCRPP), facilitated the coordination and consultative meeting between NCR Local Government Units (LGUs) and Water Concessionaires entitled “Synchronization with Water Concessionaires Wastewater Projects, Programs, and Activities.”

The meeting was held on May 16, 2023 at BSA Twin Towers Hotel, Mandaluyong City.

The consultation served as an avenue for the 17 LGUs in Metro Manila and the two water concessionaires operating therein, namely, Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and Manila Water Company, Inc. to coordinate their respective plans and ongoing projects as well as to address the challenges and concerns related to liquid waste management in their concession areas.

Also present during the meeting was the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), a government-owned water supply, treatment, and distribution utility service provider, that ensures the delivery of safe and uninterrupted supply of potable water and sanitary sewerage services to both households and commercial establishments. The MWSS operates through Maynilad and Manila Water to provide the 16 million residents of Metro Manila with potable water and sewerage and sanitation services.

Maynilad serves some portions of the West Zone comprising the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Parañaque, Quezon City, and Valenzuela. To serve an additional 1.9 million customers in the West Zone, Maynilad is constructing wastewater treatment facilities at Valenzuela City, Cupang, Muntinlupa City, Tunasan, Muntinlupa City, Las Piñas City, Ayala Southvale, and South Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas.

On the other hand, Manila Water, which serves customers in the East Zone, including the cities of Mandaluyong, Makati, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Taguig, the Municipality of Pateros and parts of the City of Manila and Quezon City, is implementing its approved Service Improvement Plan which involves the building of wastewater catchment projects located in Marikina City and Pasig City (North & South), Quezon City (East), and Mandaluyong City (West).

During the forum, concerns were raised about the obstacles that impede the implementation of the concessionaires’ projects, e.g. acquisition of permits, LGU concerns, among others. In order to address these challenges, all stakeholders present agreed to harmonize their plans and projects through a regular conduct of collaborative and coordinative meetings.

Also discussed were other initiatives that will result in a more efficient implementation of the concessionaires’ projects, that other LGUs may adopt in their jurisdictions. Notably, Parañaque City has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with its water concessionaire while Makati City passed an excavation ordinance to ensure 100% completion of the projects undertaken by the concessionaires.

Finally, both Maynilad and Manila Water sought the support of the LGUs in mounting an intensified Information, Education, and Communication campaign to encourage the public to avail of their sewerage and sanitation services.