MANILA – -Two huge dams costing PHP10 billion will be constructed in Bulacan to ensure the continuous supply of water in Metro Manila and environs all year round.
This was jointly announced on Wednesday by Reynaldo V. Velasco, administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and Orville M. Roque, president of the ITP-Maharlike Bulk Water Company, during a press conference in Quezon City.
Velasco said the construction of the dams is part of the overall water security program of the Duterte administration for water consumers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The metropolis, particularly areas serviced by Manila Water Company Inc., experienced water shortage the past few weeks due to low water level at La Mesa Dam.
Velasco presented MWSS’ road map on water security during the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang last April 1.
“Let me emphasize that it is only the Duterte administration that has put premium on the need to construct new water supply sources starting with the 600 million liters daily (MLD) Kaliwa Dam since Angat was last built in 1967 that continue to supply 4,000 MLD of water to Metro Manila and adjoining provinces,” Velasco said.
During the press briefing, Roque, whose company will undertake the construction of the dams under the Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law, said the dams will be finished in two years.
Roque said his firm will submit the proposal by the end of this month to the government for approval.
He expressed the hope the government will fast-track the approval so construction of the dam will start immediately.
Also during the press conference, Velasco said: “the MWSS Board of Trustees and management have buckled down to work to insure that there will be water security during the Duterte administration with at least 1,518 MLD by 2022.”
He said the short-term and medium water sources projects being fast-tracked are the 150 MLD Putatan (2019), 100 MLD Cardona (2019), 186 MLD Sumag (2020), 50 MLD Rizal Wellfield (2020), 80 MLD Calawis Wawa (2021), 100 MLD Putatan 3 (2022), 250 MLD Lower Ipo, and 600 MLD Kaliwa Dam (2023).
The medium-term projects from 2023 to 2027 are the 420 MLD Wawa Dam, 350 MLD Bayabas Dam, 550 MLD Angat Norzagaray Phase 2, 250 MLD East Bay, 750 MLD Sierra Madre, and the 1,800 MLD Kanan River Phase 1.
To complement the new water security road map, there will be the need to fast-track the completion of Aqueduct 6 and Tunnel 4, which were started when President Rodrigo R. Duterte assumed office.
“The capacity of 1,600 MLD will be enough to bring more excess water from Angat-Ipo too La Mesa Dam next year,” Velasco said.
“We hope to operationalize these two projects by January of 2020. In addition, Aqueduct 7 and Tunnel 5 are now on stream top provide another 1,600 MLD to flow towards La Mesa Dam,” he added.
Target date of completion of these two projects will be in June 2022.
Velasco said at the end of President Duterte’s term on June 30, 2022, “we are committed to put in place a real and sustainable adequate water supply and a 50-year master water security plan and sewerage plan.”
“This will be the crowning legacy of the Duterte administration on sustainable water supply,” he added.