Water for Iloilo

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink on a desert island surrounded by the sea.

Although this is not exactly the situation that Iloilo is in right now, its rapid economic and population growth, fueled by increasing investments in business process outsourcing (BPO) and tourism industries is putting a strain on existing water resources, according to MetroPac Water Investments Corp. (Metro Pacific Water), a leading developer and operator of water and wastewater infrastructure in the Philippines.

Thus, to help meet Iloilo’s increasing need for new water resources, Metro Pacific Water is making a huge investment on a new desalination plant that will ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for the region in the immediate and medium term.

Metro Pacific Water last June 19 signed a groundbreaking agreement for the construction of a 66.5-million liters per day (MLD) desalination plant in Iloilo, with the  Suez Group, a global leader in environmental services with 70 years of experience in Asia.

Although Metro Pacific Water did not release how much it is spending for the desalination plant, a Google search revealed that the cost to construct a 50 million gallon per day reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant typically ranges between $300 million and over $1 billion, based on factors like location, plant configuration, site conditions and financing methods.

According to the Suez Group’s website , it started its journey in Southeast Asia in 1953, building its  first water and wastewater treatment plants in Indonesia, and expanded to other industrial clients in Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and more to develop smart and reliable solutions to best manage water and waste in those countries.

The signing ceremony for Metro Pacific Water’s Iloilo desalination plant project with the Suez Group was held at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore. It was witnessed by distinguished guests from both companies.

Metro Pacific Water was represented by its president and CEO Christopher Andrew Pangilinan, while the Suez Group was represented by Farchad Kaviani, managing director for Southeast Asia.

Metro Iloilo’s rapid economic and population growth is putting a strain on existing water resources, making the new desalination plant a critical project to ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for the region in the immediate and medium term, according to Metro Pacific Water.

According to Pangilinan, the partnership with Suez “marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing a sustainable and reliable water supply for the people of Metro Iloilo. The new desalination plant will ensure we can meet the rapidly growing demand of this dynamic metropolitan area for years to come.”

For his part, Suez CEO Kaviani said, “We are proud to partner with Metro Pacific Water on this important project. Our expertise in desalination technology will contribute to a secure and sustainable water source for Iloilo.”

Metro Pacific Water operates water and wastewater concessions across the Philippines and in Vietnam. Its subsidiary in Iloilo, Metro Pacific Iloilo Water, a joint venture with Metro Iloilo Water District, serves Iloilo City and the municipalities of Pavia, Leganes, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, Oton, San Miguel and Maasin.

Toyota at the Paris Olympic Games

In the lead-up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, Toyota Motor Corp. (Toyota) is elevating its long-withstanding global partnership with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee by supplying 3,374 sustainable mobility vehicles to support athletes, officials, volunteers, accredited media and spectators at the Paris Games.

The mobility solutions have been specially designed to incorporate the visual identity of Paris 2024 and highlights the strong partnership between Toyota and the Paris Games. The vehicles are offered as a shared mobility service connected to and powered by Toyota’s KINTO Share mobile app. The KINTO Share car-sharing service has been made available to the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee since September 2023 and will supplement Toyota’s official fleet to offer the Olympic and Paralympic family greater flexibility.

Toyota’s Mobility for All philosophy lies in the belief that freedom of movement is key for active societal participation. Transitioning toward a mobility company, Toyota demonstrates the headway it has made in alleviating potential-limiting mobility barriers, as part of its “Start Your Impossible (SYI)” global corporate initiative that empowers everyone to challenge themselves and achieve their “impossible.”

The provision of these vehicles is in addition to Toyota’s partnership with more than 200 Global Team Toyota Athletes from 40 countries, who are set to compete at the Games.

Committed to fostering a future of inclusive mobility, Toyota has developed wheelchair e-pullers, with 50 of them available at Paris 2024’s athletes’ village. These will be supplemented with an additional 150 e-pullers during the Paralympic Games opening ceremony to ensure athletes have easy access.

Two hundred fifty redesigned zero tailpipe emission electric Accessible People Movers (APMs) have also been deployed to support attendees with physical disabilities. These APMs act as the main shuttle in the Olympic and Paralympic Village and at the venues. Complementing these are 150 wheelchair-accessible battery-electric vehicles, the Toyota Proace Verso, that will remain in Paris after the Games for the use of people in wheelchairs.

Toyota Motor Asia has partnered with 11 trailblazing athletes from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as part of the SYI initiative – Toyota’s first-ever global corporate initiative that seeks to create an Ever-Better Society, Ever-Better Toyota and Ever-Better Mobility for All. Through these partnerships, Toyota supports each Global Team Toyota athlete in achieving their sporting aspirations and championing social causes through Hero Projects targeted at making positive societal changes.