P26-B Wawa dam project 70% complete

The Wawa bulk water supply project is now 70 percent complete and “on track” for full operations by 2025, boosting supply for households in parts of Metro Manila and Rizal province.

WawaJVCo Inc., a joint venture between Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. and the Violago family’s San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group Inc., on Wednesday said the 85-meter roller-compacted concrete dam was set to be finished “in a few months, followed by the completion of the rest of the plant.”The P26-billion project in Rizal province is expected to add 700 million liters per day (MLD) of supply for around 500,000 households within the concession area of Manila Water Co. Inc.“The exceptional construction pace at Upper Wawa Dam showcases Prime Infra’s commitment to delivering on our commitments in developing water supply infrastructure at this scale,” said Prime Infra president and chief executive Guillaume Lucci, referring to the second phase of the project.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System pitched the Wawa project to former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 at the height of the water crisis as an alternative source of supply.

In October 2022, WawaJVCo completed the first phase of the project, or the Tayabasan Weir, which delivered an initial 80 MLD of supply.

Prior to its construction, Manila Water sourced 1,600 MLD of raw water from Angat Dam.

The Wawa project, one of the national government’s flagship infrastructure projects, is expected to increase Manila Water’s capacity by over 30 percent, WawaJVCo said. INQ