Maynilad earmarks P20.65B up to 2027 to reduce water losses
AKLAN—Maynilad Water Services Inc. has allotted P20.65 billion for this year until 2027 to significantly slash water losses, which are mainly due to pipe leaks and illegal connections.
Officials present at the media briefing here said the group has spent P1.14 billion in the first quarter alone. During the period, Maynilad repaired more than 18,000 leaks, up 41 percent from a year ago.
Based on Maynilad’s prospectus dated May 14, investments for nonrevenue water (NRW) management would cover meter management, acquisition of leak detection equipment, implementation of leak detection activities, pipe replacement and business area service expansions.
According to the company, NRW refers to water produced but is not charged to consumers.
Ryan Jamora, head of the central NRW management division, said the capital expenditures would help cut the group’s NRW level to 34 percent of its total water produced in 2025.
The figure is expected to improve further to 25 percent by 2027, a huge drop from 66.4 percent two decades prior or in 2006.
The official said Maynilad has been “building its momentum” on this front, and efforts to further reduce the NRW level have been “consistently accelerating.”
He said, however, that despite the significant jump in funding to address water losses, there were persistent challenges barring them from going full speed in fixing the network.
Dilemmas
One of its dilemmas is bureaucratic red tape, whereby companies or developers deal with lengthy permitting processes—from local governments, including subdivision associations, to national government.
Jamora also noted some sites have been used by informal settlements, while other areas were difficult to remedy given their poor soil condition for pipe depth.
Despite these, he said Maynilad was working around the clock to repair leaks across the West Zone, covering 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila and Cavite.
Maynilad is set to go public by the third quarter of this year.
The concession agreement of Maynilad with the Philippine government, through the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, requires it to offer at least 30 percent of its shares to the public.
