Utility giant Maynilad Water Services Inc. is targeting the timely completion of its water infrastructure projects in Rizal province to align with the government’s schedule for the Kaliwa Dam project to better serve the growing water demand across Metro Manila and nearby areas.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) projects the Kaliwa Dam to be operational by 2028 or 2029.

To complement this timeline, Maynilad is pressing forward with several initiatives, including the construction of the Teresa Water Treatment Plant and an extensive pipeline network.

“It’s critical for us that when the Kaliwa Dam is completed, all the related projects will be finished simultaneously,” Maynilad chief operating officer Randolph T. Estrellado said in an interview with reporters. “Right now, MWSS is saying the Kaliwa Dam will be finished by maybe 2028, or conservatively, 2029.”

Pipeline work ongoing

Maynilad’s infrastructure plans include a pipeline that will connect Teresa, Morong and Binangonan, with sections crossing Laguna Lake.

For the company, Estrellado noted the need to match project completion with the dam’s operational timeline.

“What we don’t want is for the Kaliwa Dam to be completed without us having done anything, so we’re closely monitoring this,” he added. “At the same time, we don’t want to finish too far ahead because having idle assets would also be difficult.”

Securing permits remains a major hurdle in the timeline, with the process of laying wastewater pipes often taking over a year. Despite these challenges, Maynilad has already made significant progress.

“For the Teresa Water Treatment Plant, we’ve already purchased the land. We will also be awarding two contracts to lay the pipes in Binangonan and in Teresa and Morong. For next year, it will be for Binangonan and the treatment plant itself. Combined, that’s (worth) around P30 billion,” Estrellado confirmed.