P1 billion alloted for enhancement of Angat Dam

MANILA, Philippines - The two water utilities in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces - Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. - have agreed to undertake a water resource enhancement project for the Angat Dam at a cost of about P1 bilion.

Maynilad chief operating officer Herbert Consunji said the project would involve the construction of a tunnel that would allow water from the Umiray and Sumag Rivers in Gen. Nakar, Quezon province to flow to the Angat reservoir in Bulacan.

Consunji estimates that the project would contribute an additional 200 MLD (million liters per day) to Angat.

The cost of the project, Consunji said, would be shared equally by Maynilad and Manila Water.

Maynilad and Manila Water, the West and East Zone concessionaires, respectively, are already in the process of securing the necessary permits from the local government units and  the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Bidding for the construction would hopefully be undertaken this year.The project is expected to take two years to complete.

The Umiray-Sumag tunnel project is among the alternative water sources the two water concessionaires are undertaking after failing to reach an agreement on the more ambitious Laiban project.

The Laiban project would potentially double the capacity of Angat, which is capable of supplying only 850 MLD to Metro Manila.

Unfortunately, the Laiban project has been shelved following disagreement with proponent San Miguel Bulk Water Corp., which attached a controversial take-or-pay provision to the development contract.