People cool themselves in the cascading waters of Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Water Company, Inc. is set to sign a joint venture agreement with business tycoons Enrique Razon and Oscar Violago to build a new dam as one of the long-term solutions to prevent water service interruptions.
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Reynaldo Velasco disclosed this at a House hearing into the water shortage issue in Metro Manila since March 6.
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“On the possible new water sources, I think by tomorrow or next year, Manila Water will be signing a joint venture with San Lorenzo Development under Mr. Violago now jointly with Mr. Razon to put up a 500 million liters per day (MLD) [dam],” Velasco told the House Metro Manila Development committee.
“This is actually not a rehabilitation of Wawa dam because I asked them that they should construct a new one because Wawa dam is already very old,” he added.
Razon is International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s chairperson, while Violago heads the San Lorenzo Ruiz Water Development Corp.
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Velasco meanwhile said other long-term solutions entail the building of the new Centennial Water Source, possible new water sources by rehabilitation of existing dams, as well as the construction of tunnels and aqueduct.
MWSS’ short-term solutions also include Maynilad’s transfer of water allocation to Manila Water at the La Mesa portal, energization of 100 million liters per day (MLD) Cardona Rizal Water Treatment Plant, cross border gate valve opening, reactivation of standby 101 deep wells, and deployment of mobile water tankers, according to Velasco. /cbb
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