Iloilo welcomes P336-M investment to enhance water distribution

ILOILO CITY: The local government here has urged the support of the community to minimize any inconveniences due to the implementation of the PHP366 million hydraulic system (HS) total pipe replacement project of the Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) in Jaro district. 'Your understanding and patience are vital in the successful completion of this important endeavor, which will ultimately benefit all of us by ensuring a more reliable and efficient water supply,' Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said in a statement on Thursday. The project is a crucial step towards ensuring sustainable water management and enhancing the overall water service delivery in the community, he added. The MPIW which held a groundbreaking for the project on Wednesday, would enhance water distribution in Jaro, Mandurriao, and parts of City Proper districts. The project, traversing from Barangay Ungka to Jaro Plaza, is expected to reduce the non-water revenue or water losses to 20 percent from 70 percent, equivalent to the recovery of 10 to 15 million liters per day (MLD). 'This is 14-9 kilometers of pipe laying, rehabilitating, and replacing the old pipes. This pipeline will ensure that our water supply is more robust and more capable of meeting the demands of our growing population,' said Angelo David Berba, MPIW chief operating officer, in his message during the groundbreaking activity. With the project, they could mitigate the impacts of El Niño by recovering water losses. During the El Niño, they lost around 30 MLD. The pipe laying project will use a molecularly oriented polyvinyl chloride pipe (PVCO), similar to conventional PVC but thinner and significantly lighter. It is cheaper and can fast-track the pipe laying works, he added. 'The new pipeline will incorporate state-of-the-art PVC-O pipes imported from Spain, making MPIW the first water utility to use the largest 1000-millimeter diameter pipe in the Asia Pacific to ensure that our water infrastructure is future-ready. We are committed to completing this project on time and with the highest quality standards," he added. He said the water supply in the project areas will not be affected while the replacement is ongoing. The project is up for completion in December of 2025. Source : Philippines News agency