Water firm to expand distribution network

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu-based water technology provider Mactan Rock Industries Inc. (MRII) is strengthening its bid to solve the water shortage in Cebu, and other parts of the country by expanding its distribution network.

MRII chairman Antonio Tompar said that the company will start expanding its water distribution network in areas where it has existing operations, both in commercial and household requirements.

In 2010, Tompar said MRII will increase its water supply capacity from a total of 50 cubic meters a day to 100 cubic meters per day, when its newly acquired desalination machine will be operational.

Next year, MRII will be able to supply at least 100 cubic meters a day for commercial and household requirement, utilizing other sources like surface water and desalination technology, among others.

“Instead of getting new areas to supply we will expand within the coverage of our existing plants,” Tompar said describing that closing big projects next year is going to be challenging because of the election.

The company has been supplying water to more than a dozen of shopping malls nationwide, including manufacturing companies, hotels and resorts. Through its 15-year old “Barangayan” project, the company also has been able to serve communities in partnership with Local Government Units (LGUs).

According to Tompar, while the new constitution allows non-exclusivity of providing water supply, MRII, together with its sister company Pilipinas Water Resource Inc. (PWR) will have to offer the supply of water down to the household level, through the “Barangayan” concept.

In the “Barangayan” chain, MRII and PWRI serve as the bulk water suppliers for a certain community. MRII and PWRI then partner with LGU and a cooperative for the water distribution.

Tompar said the market for surface water utilization is big. This is where the company will be able to expand next year, utilizing river banks to provide affordable potable water through water clarifier technology. 

“Supply of water should not be a problem. There are a lot of technologies now that allow ample supply of water not only to industries but down to the household,” Tompar said.

Although MRII is also a bulk water supplier of Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), Tompar said the company is going to strengthen its entry into supply water especially to communities that are not currently served by the water district. 

The company is curently supplying water directly to households in some communities not only in Cebu, but other parts of the Philippines.

In partnership with the respective LGUs, Tompar said the companies (MRII and PWRI) will set up good water technology facility, either tapping ground river resource or surface water, or desalination technology, to make water amply available to the residents and commercial entities.

“Water supply should not be a problem. We have wide resources, even in the islands,” Tompar said.