PH, role model of 4 ASEAN states on PPP on water use

This was disclosed by retired Police Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco, new administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), in an exclusive interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Tuesday. (Photo: mwss.gov.ph)

MANILA — Four members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have made the Philippines their role model in the implementation of Private Public Partnerships (PPP) on the proper use of water.

This was disclosed by retired Police Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco, new administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), in an exclusive interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Tuesday.

The four ASEAN states that have adopted the Philippines’ PPP strategy are Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, Velasco said.

Velasco attended the just-concluded 1st Asia International Water Week and the Korea International Water Week 2017 held in Gyeongju, South Korea that brought together some 2,500 stakeholders in the water industry to discuss ways to establish lasting partnerships to resolve water issues in Asia and around the world.

He said the Philippines implemented the PPP program in 1997 during the administration of then president Fidel V. Ramos, wherein the MWSS, Manila Water, Maynilad Water Services, and SMC’s Luzon Clean Water Corp. signed a Concession Agreement in managing the country’s water industry.

During the twin Korean forums, Velasco, together with Ferdinand M. dela Cruz, Manila Water president, and Ramoncito S. Fernandez, Maynilad Water president, presented the Philippines’ “Water Security under the Duterte Administration and the Successful PPP in the Philippines”.

“The Korea water conference was an important event to further promote the country’s effective, participative and successful PPP legal framework started in 1997 by President Fidel V. Ramos through a Concession Agreement in the water industry that the Philippines, through Manila Water, is now exporting to ASEAN countries like Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia,”  Velasco said.

On the other hand, dela Cruz stressed that “water PPP can work in many places provided the regulatory framework is clear, transparent and consistent. An output-based scheme is appropriate for the private sector to provide an environment to perform well and in an efficient manner. Water PPP has worked in Metro Manila. It has worked in other parts of the Philippines. It can work in many more places in Asia. Manila Water is a testimony that Asians can solve Asian water issues.”

For his part, Fernandez said “our partnership with the MWSS has benefited millions of Filipinos, spurred economic activity with our investments and generated thousands of jobs. We are now setting our sights to other areas in the Philippines as there are still 15 million Filipinos without access to water. We want to replicate our success story to other areas so others can also enjoy improved water supply and sanitation.”

The water conference was attended by Dr. Hak-Soo Lee, president of Asia Water Council and CEO of K-water; World Water Council president Dr. Benedito Braga; Minister of Public Works and Housing of Indonesia Dr. Ir. Basuki Hadimoeljono; Korea Minister of the Land of Infrastructure and Transport Hyun Mi Kim; Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Kwan Yong Kim; and Daegu City Mayor Yeong Jin Kwon.

Since he assumed as MWSS administrator in February this year, Velasco cited privatization as a major factor in the vastly improved water services in Metro Manila.

He described the two concessionaires, Manila Waters and Maynilad, as “partners in the water service and champions of PPP,” citing the need to work closely together in the collective mission to ensure water security, strengthen and expand coverage of wastewater treatment plants to help reduce water pollution and protect major water resources.