Maynilad, Manila Water back Kaliwa Dam construction

MANILA, Philippines — The two concessionaires of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) are fully supportive of the construction of the P12.2-billion Kaliwa Dam despite opposition from various sectors.

West zone concessionaire and Pangilinan-led Maynilad Water Services Inc. said the construction of the new dam is essential to meeting the water needs of the country’s growing population and alleviate Metro Manila’s reliance on a single raw water source.

“The Kaliwa Dam project is in line with government efforts to ensure water supply sustainability and reliability for Metro Manila residents. It is an additional raw water source that will augment the supply from Angat Dam, which is currently the only major source being tapped,” Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said.

East zone concessionaire and Ayala-led Manila Water Co. Inc., on the other hand, lauded the recent creation of a technical working group to develop the water supply masterplan for both east and west zones to sustain national development.

“Given the 96 percent dependency of Metro Manila on Angat Dam, we underscore the urgency of building new water sources including the already approved Kaliwa Dam project,” Manila Water president and CEO Ferdinand dela Cruz said.

MWSS recently allayed fears of several groups and maintained that the P12.2-billion New Centennial Water Supply Project can withstand threats of earthquake.

After 34 years, Kaliwa Dam is set to fully take off following the formal signing of the contract between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.

Of the P12.1 billion construction cost of the project, 85 percent will be funded by the official development assistance from China amounting to P10.2 billion, while 15 percent will be shouldered by MWSS.

The project, which will supply an additional 600 million liters of water per day to Metro Manila, will be undertaken by China Energy Engineering Corp. starting next year and will be completed in 2023.

The construction of the multi-billion water project was first approved by the National Economic and Development Authority in 2014. Financing scheme was changed in 2017 from a public-private partnership to official development assistance.

MWSS said the benefits of the project also include tourism boom, opening of new roads, employment opportunities and improved economy in the areas.