Manila Water to assess Laiban dam before submitting proposal

East zone concessionaire Manila Water Co., Inc. will study the movement, distribution and quality of water in the Laiban dam before submitting a proposal to undertake the $1-billion water project together with west zone operator Maynilad Water Services, Inc. "Discussions [with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System] will continue next week. It is within our concession contract to undertake such projects," Manila Water President Rene Almendras told reporters following a stockholders’ meeting on Monday. While both concessionaires agreed to share the cost of the study and the project, Almendras said the cooperation stops there. "There is no plan to create a joint venture agreement or company for this exercise," he added. The Laiban dam project aims to supplement the long-term water supply requirements of Metro Manila by building a dam using the Kaliwa river basin in Tanay, Rizal. According to the MWSS, the dam will provide about 21 cubic meters per second or 1,830 million liters per day of water supply and about 25 megawatts for hydropower generation. Kaliwa River basin is situated east of Metro Manila and drains a mountainous watershed of about 28,000 hectares on the slope of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Both Manila Water and Maynilad have confirmed their interest to fill the void left by San Miguel Corp., which abandoned talks for the project. MWSS Administrator Jose Allado earlier admitted that unsuccessful talks with San Miguel was a major setback for the agency’s water programs. In a related development, Manila Water said it was bidding in at least six major water projects in India — two concession contracts, three for operation and management and another for bulk water supply. Overseas projects "We’re in the process of being prequalified. We’re expecting the results of prequalification anytime next month," Almendras said. The Ayala-led concessionaire has partnered with the Jindal Group of Companies in bidding for the Indian projects. The water company said it was still looking for other concessions outside the Philippines. "Cambodia is still in our radar, so is China, but so far nothing is happening there. Currently, we’re more attracted to India. India’s regulatory framework is evolving in the right path as far as our business program in concerned," Almendras said. Meanwhile, Almendreas said Manila Water might implement another water cutback in May and June by another 1 cubic meter to 35 cubic meters once the water level in Angat Dam further goes down to 180 meters. El Niño "Our focus at the moment is El Niño. And because of that, we’re implementing a set of emergency protocols in all areas within our scope," he said. Part of the company’s mitigation plan is to use 49 deep wells, 29 static tanks, 26 water tankers and four mobile treatment plants under a worst-case scenario. Manila Water serves over one million households in the East zone, which includes San Juan, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pateros, Taguig, Makati and parts of Manila, Parañaque and Quezon City. It also supplies water and wastewater services to several towns in Rizal province, including San Mateo , Rodriguez, Antipolo, Cainta, Angono, Taytay, Binangonan, Baras and Jala-jala. Maynilad serves over seven million customers in Metro Manila and parts of Cavite. Its concession area includes the cities of Manila except portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana, parts of Quezon City and Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon. It also serves the municipalities of Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite province. — NPA, GMANews.TV