K-Water, Maynilad eye water, wastewater deal in New Clark City

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Thursday said it is looking into a P15-billion unsolicited proposal from South Korean government agency Korea Water Resources Group (K-Water) and west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. for a long-term water and wastewater management deal in New Clark City.

Under the proposal submitted to the PPP in October, a joint venture company — with K-Water having a 40% stake and Maynilad and BCDA with 40% each — will operate and manage the water and wastewater management.

According to BCDA president and chief executive officer Joshua Bingcang said the agency has 10 days to decide whether to accept the proposal, after it was forwarded by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center on Wednesday, February 4.

“We were given 10 days to respond if we will accept it, and then I think 80 days to negotiate,” he told reporters in Makati City.

“Actually dapat much earlier pa to eh, kaya lang nag-IPO pa si Maynilad tapos wala daw sa prospectus niya tong project,” Bingcang said.

(Actually, this should have been much earlier, but Maynilad did an IPO and this project was not in its prospectus.)

Maynilad made its stock market debut on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) in November, raising P34.3 billion.

K-Water, meanwhile, earlier signed two memoranda of understanding with the BCDA for the feasibility studies of comprehensive water resource plans in New Clark City, Camp John Hay, and Poro Point.

This included proposals to reduce water loss and ensure stable water supply through smart water network management, and artificial intelligence-driven water purification plants.

“As a pioneer in innovative water management solutions, K-Water will play a vital role in shaping the future water infrastructure in the BCDA’s economic zones,” Bingcang said in a release in March 2025.

“This will allow us to integrate smart water technologies in our developments, enabling the BCDA to balance the need of our locators with our duty to preserve the environment,” he added.

At present, New Clark City — which currently requires some 20 to 30 million liters per day (MLD) — by Maynilad. This is expected to increase to up to 150 MLD moving forward.

The BCDA is mandated to help strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) while building cities. It also engaged in public-private partnerships to boost public infrastructure such as tollways, airports, seaports, and major real estate developments.

It reported a 20.9% increase in its cash revenues to P14.1 billion in 2025, up from P11.6 billion in 2024, and surpassing its P10-billion target driven by land dispositions, lease arrangements, concession fees, and investment-related receipts. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News