PPP in water projects works, says Manila Water chief

With a clear, transparent and consistent regulatory framework, public-private partnerships (PPP) in water projects has worked in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Thus said Manila Water president Ferdinand de la Cruz, who added that PPP “can work in many more places in Asia and Manila Water is a testimony that Asians can solve Asian water issues. ”

De la Cruz , who spoke at the first Asia International Water Week held recently in Gyeongju, Korea, affirmed his company’s commitment to push the Asian water agenda to ensure sustainable urban growth and development in tandem with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

De la Cruz said he strongly supported the priority program and projects of MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco to ensure water security for Metro Manila by building new and large water sources.

“Together with MWSS, we just celebrated in August 2017 our 20 years of successful public-private partnership, now a water PPP model that was able to turnaround a water crisis situation in the mid-’90s to the current excellent service of world-class standards which is highly recognized in the global water industry,” said De la Cruz.

For his part, Velasco cited the concession model between the government and the private sector to provide access to affordable potable water and sanitation for the urban poor.

“We are fortunate that more than half of the new customers which Manila Water added to its customer base that it inherited from MWSS, or over 1.8 million people, came from the marginalized sector and these customers now enjoy 24/7 piped water and regular sanitation services,” said the MWSS chief.