Manila Water Company: Marikina-Manila Water tie-up cited

Marikina-Manila Water tie-up cited

Posted: Wednesday April 25, 2007

Marikina City may soon realize its vision of having a stable supply of potable water for every household, as well as clean river where fish will thrive and children can freely swim without fear of getting sick due to pollution.

Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando hinted that such ideal scenario is about to materialize through the city government’s partnership with the Ayala-led Manila Water Company which is currently undertaking massive pipe-laying operations which has covered about 100 percent of the city’s more than 115,000 households.

“The partnership has worked very well. I think it is very effective,” the mayor said in an interview. “In return, Manila Water has tried to connect water pipes to as many households, and as quickly as possible. Most of the households in Marikina are now enjoying stable supply of tap water,” Mayor Fernando said. Underscoring the relevance of Manila Water’s role, Mayor Fernando said water supply is a “very important basic service that the people need.” She said people who lack continuous supply of safe and clean water generally become less productive as they are more preoccupied with fetching water or interminably discussing water issues with friends and neighbors.

“If we remove these distractions and irritations that make life more stressful for the people, they can have a better quality of life,” the local chief executive pointed out.

Mayor Fernando also noted that the collaboration has enabled Manila Water to dramatically reduce system losses in the city, partly owing to the vigilance of the people themselves who immediately report illegal connections and leakages to the authorities.

In the same interview, the mayor said another major thrust of her administration is public sanitation and environment protection. “We have been discussing with them (Manila Water officials) about locations where they can set up wastewater treatment facilities,” she said. “I hope Manila Water can put up at least four or five water treatment facilities (in Marikina).” Thus far, two sites have been identified—the market area along Wenceslao Paz Street in Barangay Sta. Elena and the Olandes area.

Mayor Fernando noted that water in the city’s creeks and rivers have turned brackish due to untreated wastewater coming from the sewers and upland areas, particularly Antipolo City.
Meanwhile, free desludging of household septic tanks, complemented by an intensive information and education campaign, was being implemented.

Mayor Fernando warned that “more stringent inspections” would be conducted by local sanitation authorities in the future to strengthen their sanitation and cleanliness drive.

“There will also be a city ordinance or a septage management program soon to support the advocacy of Manila Water,” said City Environment Officer Gloria Buenaventura.