Maynilad allots P17.2B for 2013 capex

Maynilad Water Services, Inc. has allocated P17.2 billion for its capital expenditures for 2013, the company announced Sunday. The amount is more than twice what it spent for water and wastewater projects in 2012 and is the company's biggest capital expenditure since its privatization in 1997. Maynilad is the concessionaire for the National Capital Region's West Zone, which covers parts of Manila, Quezon City and Makati as well as Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon. It also provides water to Cavite City, Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite Province. Some P9.3 billion of the total will go toward wastewater projects such as sewage treatment plants and conveyance systems in Valenzuela, Pasay and Muntinlupa. Another P3.76 billion will go toward the laying of pipelines and the addition of new infrastructure such as pumping statiuons and reservoirs that will provide potable water to currently unserved areas in North Caloocan, Valenzuela and Novaliches in Quezon City, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Imus, Kawit, Bacoor, and Cavite City. Some P2.13 billion will be used for the company's Non-Revenue Water reduction program, which includes leakage control and meter and pressure management. The rest of the capex will be used for projects such as the upgrade of existing pumping stations and reservoirs and for water source development. Maynilad president and CEO Ricky P. Vargas said that after improving and expanding the company's water services, Maynilad will focus next on sewerage and septage coverage. "This will require a lot of resources but we are committed to doing our part in protecting the health of our customers and the environment," he said. — BM, GMA News