INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Maynilad Water Services has so far secured 104 water tankers to conduct water rationing in about 800 barangays (villages) in Metro Manila and Cavite as the company urged its customers in these areas anew to start storing water for the duration of the water service interruptions from Holy Wednesday to Black Saturday.
Cherubim Mojica, head of the company’s corporation communications office, on Monday said at least 26 water tankers would be deployed by the Manila city government while 10 other units would be provided by Manila Water, another water firm.
“Parañaque City officials will meet with us tomorrow (Tuesday) to finalize the number of tankers they could field. Like Pasay City, Parañaque will also provide free water to affected Maynilad customers,” she said.
She disclosed that last weekend, they “met with representatives of various volunteer firefighting groups, which operate around 120 water tankers.”
“We’re hoping to borrow between 20 and 30 tankers from these groups. We’ll know today how many they can loan us,” Mojica told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
She said they were “looking for additional tankers from other private companies and organizations, as well as the Bureau of Fire Protection and other local government units” in Metro Manila and Cavite.
When interviewed, Mojica said they would “prioritize areas that will be waterless for three straight days in the water rationing scheme.”
She clarified that “the water we’re providing our customers will be free of charge.”
“Any attempt to solicit payment for the water rationing should be immediately reported to 1626, the Maynilad Hotline,” she added.
Earlier, Maynilad said it would conduct “24/7 water rationing” in hospitals in areas covered by the three-day water service interruption.
It also announced that stationary water tanks would be installed in the Baseco and Parola compounds in Tondo, Manila, as well as in parts of Cavite.
The water company has explained that a P560-million flood control project of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Blumentritt, Manila, will cause water service interruptions from one to three days.
Service interruptions are expected in the following areas: Parts of Manila, Malabon, Navotas, Pasay City, Makati City, and southern Caloocan City; parts of Imus and Kawit towns, both in Cavite; the entire cities of Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and Parañaque; and the entire Bacoor City and Noveleta town, both in Cavite.
“Designed to address the perennial flooding problem in Manila, the DPWH project involves the installation of an interceptor box culvert, which will traverse the Maynilad water pipe along the corner of Juan Luna and Hermosa streets,” Maynilad noted.
It would require the realignment of the water pipe prior to the implementation of the DPWH flood control project.
The firm urged its customers to store enough water for the duration of the service interruptions.
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