Marcos urges Maynilad to uphold public service as it launches landmark IPO

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday urged Maynilad Water Services Inc. to remain focused on serving the public as the water utility marked a milestone with its public listing on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Speaking at the company’s Public Offering Listing event in Taguig City, President Marcos highlighted the crucial role of private sector partners in delivering essential services, especially in sectors like water, which he described as “life-giving and vital to economic and social stability.”

“To our partners in Maynilad, never lose sight of the people you serve,” Marcos said, noting that the company’s public listing stands as a symbol of growing investor confidence in the country and the importance of accountability through the capital markets.

Expected to be the largest initial public offering (IPO) in the country for 2025 and the second-biggest in Philippine history, Maynilad’s listing opens the doors to new investors and greater transparency in its operations.

Marcos affirmed the administration’s support for Maynilad’s expansion and modernization efforts, saying, “Be assured the government is always in support of your initiatives, especially now that you have entered this new phase in your service.”

He further emphasized the urgency of honest service in both the public and private sectors as the country faces multiple challenges—including climate change and rebuilding public trust.

“As we face the many challenges ahead, from climate change to the rebuilding of public trust, may this day remind us that reform is built on work done with honesty,” the President said.

Marcos added that companies like Maynilad must welcome public scrutiny as part of their responsibility to consumers.

“Maynilad welcomes scrutiny and accountability. And in doing so, Maynilad can expand our capital markets and our shared belief that private enterprise can serve the public good,” he said.

Maynilad supplies water services to the West Zone of Metro Manila, covering cities and municipalities with a combined population of millions. Its initial public offering marks a major advancement for the Philippine water sector and further enhances the role of private capital in vital infrastructure.