The Provincial Government of Pangasinan (PGP) with the consortium of Manila Water Company (MWC), Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Inc. (MWPV) signed the Concession Agreement and held the groundbreaking ceremony for the 25-year Bulk Water Supply Project that will bring an additional 200 million liters of water per day (MLD) to Pangasinan.

The water consortium will invest PhP8 billion over the next 25 years for the implementation of capital expenditure programs that will create an infrastructure that will source water from Agno River using the Riverbank Filtration technology and will increase water supply in the Province.

Through this project, at least 14 cities and municipalities in Pangasinan including Villasis, Urdaneta, Malasiqui, Dagupan, Mangaldan, Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Mapandan, Manaoag, San Carlos, Binmaley, Lingayen, San Jacinto, and San Fabian will eventually experience water supply improvement.

In his message, Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino III said that the Public Private Partnership’s 200 MLD Bulk Water Supply project is the first in the province and in the region. Thanking Manila Water, Espino also emphasized that this is an investment for the more than 3 million Pangasinenses and that apart from water supply, it will generate jobs and more economic avenues for the province.

For his part, Manila Water Philippine Ventures North Luzon Regional Manager Christian Mhel Marcos said that consortium is very grateful to the support extended by the Provincial Government especially in laying the 6-year groundwork and for facilitating coordination with different stakeholders to ensure that the project objectives are attained, and benefits are maximized.

Efforts for the water project began in September 2016 when the Consortium submitted an unsolicited proposal to PGP. This was followed by the initial evaluation of Pangasinan Public-Private Partnership Selection Committee (PPP-SC) before the Notice of Acceptance was issued in November 2018. Negotiations ensued and Joint Certifications of Successful Negotiations was signed in July 2019. Finally, in September of last year, the Provincial Government presented the Notice of Award for the development, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the bulk water project to Manila Water.

Marcos added that there is still a lot to be done by the partnership, and that the consortium is committed to invest and deliver the needed project that will assist in resolving the water requirements of Pangasinan.

Pangasinan Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine U. Baniqued; MWPV Subsidiary Operations Group Director Maidy Lynne Quinto; Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino III; MWC Operating Officer for Non-East Zone and International Business Melvin Tan; Provincial Administrator Nimrod S. Camba; and MWPV North Luzon Regional Manager Christian Mhel Marcos represent the consortium during the signing of the concession agreement between Manila Water Philippine Ventures and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan.

Aside from Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino III, also present during the milestone event were Provincial Administrator Nimrod Camba, Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued, Manila Water Chief Operating Officer for Non-East Zone and International Business Melvin John Tan, Manila Water Philippine Ventures Subsidiary Operations Group Director Maidy Lynne Quinto, Manila Water Philippine Ventures North Luzon Regional Manager Christian Mhel Marcos, together with the Provincial Government Board Members and the Public Private Partnership Committee Members.

For 25 years, Manila Water brings water and wastewater services to the East Zone of Metro Manila and Rizal Province while subsidiary Manila Water Philippine Ventures serves key metropolitan areas in Batangas, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Boracay, Iloilo, and Samar, as well as operates bulk water supply projects in the Province of Cebu and in Tagum, Davao del Norte.