(Eagle News) — The Metropolitan Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System is calling for a summit that will craft a 50-year water security and used water masterplan for Metro Manila to address future water crises in the Philippine capital.
MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco said that this summit, which he eyes to hold in August, would provide long-term solutions on water supply and distribution in Metro Manila, as well as sewerage system plans.
Velasco said this summit could be held in August.
He also revealed that an executive committee and technical working group will be created soon to draft short-term and long-term solutions to water and sewerage problems.
-Need to look for other sources of water-
The MWSS chief also stressed the importance of looking for other sources of water, aside from dams which take years to build and also have environmental impact.
“For now, we are studying rainwater saving, but that’s (only) for limited areas,” Velasco said.
“I am waiting for somebody to give me a very good feasibility study that will hopefully be a better alternative than what we are doing now,” he said.
-New water tunnel-
Because of the current water problem in Metro Manila, Velasco said he is also asking both Maynilad and Manila Water Corporation to join as partners in building a new conveyance tunnel that could provide 2,400 million liters a day (mld) through the La Mesa portal.
He said that the construction of the tunnel could start as soon as possible and will be complemented with the building of an aqueduct which had already been already approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Velasco said that this tunnel could be completed with two years.
“We are now asking Manila Water and Maynilad to partner to ensure that Tunnel 5, which will have another 2,400 mld (million liters per day) will be already started or should be started as soon as possible, and we will complement this with Aqueduct 7 which has already undergone the NEDA approval and feasibility study,” Velasco said.
“With these two projects, I hope within two years, or hopefully less, we should be able to bring in another 2,400 mld per day through the La Mesa portal,” he added.
