MCWD, Maynilad ink deal to study Cebu water sources

THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is tapping the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) to study how to develop and enhance the surface water sources in Cebu.

Armando H. Paredes, general manager of MCWD, said yesterday that the local water firm had signed an agreement or a memorandum of understanding with Maynilad to address the increasing demand for potable water among the residents of Cebu.

Paredes said the the demand of water in Cebu had been increasing by 3 percent to 5 percent each year.

Since MCWD is in urgent need of an additional source of potable water, Maynilad will submit a project proposal for surface water source development, including the supply of bulk potable water, pipe-laying activities for unserved areas in Cebu and rehabilitation or replacement of existing mainlines and septage management.

Maynilad is a private corporation, managed by consortium made up of  Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and the DMCI Holdings Inc. The consortium took over the firm in 2007.

Maynilad is a water service provider for the West Zone of the greater Metro Manila area.

The agreement will ask Maynilad to submit a project proposal, which will include a feasibility study to determine the water demand, quantity and quality of water that could be drawn from certain identified water sources within or outside Cebu, average non-revenue water (NRW) of MCWD, and the total investment required to undertake the project.

Victorio P. Vargas, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Maynilad said that they are hiring a group of consultants and engineers to conduct the feasibility study.

Vargas explained that the feasibility study would be done in six months so that they could submit a proposal to MCWD to provide additional water supply in Cebu.

Maynilad will be hiring foreign consultants to help with the study.

Vargas said that Maynilad was planning to have a rehabilitation program and water source and distribution at no cost to the water district.

Paredes, for his part, said that the feasibility study would be conducted within the coverage area of the MCWD.

Meanwhile, Rep. Tomas Osmena, Cebu City south district, said that the government would monitor the needs of the MCWD.

Osmeña said that the government will also validate whether Maynilad can do something for the public and to “direct them of the different possiblities”.

“I hope that they (MCWD) should consider the policy of pricing.” Osmeña told reporters.

Osmeña said that the pricing of water should be “demand driven.” /Correspondent Rhea Ruth V. Rosell