Wawa JVCo to start delivery of additional water to Rizal

MANILA, Philippines — Wawa JVCo Inc., a unit of Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., starts delivery of additional water supply to consumers in eastern Metro Manila and parts of Rizal as it completes the first phase of the P26-billion Wawa bulk water infrastructure project last month.

In a statement yesterday, Wawa JVCo said the Tayabasan Weir – which comprises phase 1 of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project – filled up its reservoir early June, signaling its completion ahead of its schedule in October.

Providing ample water supply to Metro Manila and the province of Rizal, the Tayabasan Weir is a 25-meter-high roller compacted concrete structure designed to deliver 80 million liters per day (MLD) to offtaker Manila Water Co. Inc. and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

It is comprised of three parts: the weir where water is impounded, the pumping station that brings the bulk water to the water treatment plant, and the buried water pipeline where the bulk water passes to get to the water treatment plant.

“True to our fast and lean management approach, Prime Infra, through Wawa JVCo, has delivered a critical water infrastructure that supports the country’s infrastructure development agenda with speed – as you all know, this phase of the project was finished ahead of schedule in the middle of a pandemic,” Prime Infra president and CEO Guillaume Lucci said.

“Even at this fast pace, we were able to secure the necessary permits and most importantly, obtain the seal of approval for the social aspects of the project, further demonstrating our capability to deliver not only critical water infrastructure, but also provide economic upliftment of local communities and environmental conservation, for instance we are developing the master plan to make Wawa an eco-tourism site that will provide long-term positive impact to them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wawa JVCo said phase 2 of the project – dubbed as Upper Wawa Dam – would be completed in 2025 and eventually deliver at least 518 MLD of water to over 500,000 households in the east zone concession area.

The project will also help mitigate recurring flood issues in the lower areas of Rizal province, Marikina City and Pasig City.

Last March, the company obtained the approval of the Dumagat/Remontado Indigenous People of Antipolo and Rodriguez for the Upper Wawa Dam.

This the fourth and final memorandum of agreement in the Free and Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC) Process for the project. The MOA event was supervised by the FPIC team and attended by representatives of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) offices.

Wawa JVCo also received the Certificate Precondition, (CP) from the NCIP, certifying that the FPIC process has been complied with by the company, and the communities have given their consent to the project.

It also secured the necessary permits from various government agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Environmental Management Bureau, the Protected Area Management Board of the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape, and the concerned local government units.