Only three years under new owners, Maynilad has spent nearly P20 billion to replace old pipes, upgrade water facilities and expand its distribution network in the West Zone.

The capital expenditure by DMCI and Metro Pacific has more than doubled the P8-billion investments made by the previous owners from 1997 to 2006.

According to Maynilad president Rogelio Singson, the private concessionaire is prepared to allocate more funds to upgrade water and sewerage services, should the company be granted a 15-year Concession Agreement term extension by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

“Maynilad spending can reach P564 billion, which is 274 percent higher than the P206-billion capital investment submitted in our 2008 Business Plan to the MWSS,” Singson said in a statement.

“Future water rate increase may be reduced by as much as 75 percent because we will have a longer concession period to recover our investments.”

Since 2007, Maynilad has completed major CAPEX projects such as the 800-mm pipeline in Binondo, Manila and the filling up of gaps along the LMAQ-3 pipeline in Sampaloc; 1,200-mm extension pipe and 600-mm pipeline along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City; the MS-01 Gaps and 800-mm pipeline along Sucat Road, Parañaque City; the Noveleta and Cavite City surface water projects; and the construction and upgrading of pumping stations and reservoirs, the statement said.

More than 15 kilometers of primary lines have also been energized to improve water pressure in Commonwealth, Quirino and Roosevelt in Quezon City; Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas, North Caloocan, South Manila, and portions of Pasay, Parañaque and Cavite.

As a result, of 760,000 households served by Maynilad, Singson said around 440,000 now receive potable supply round the clock; 530,000 households have stronger water flow at 7 psi (pounds per square inch) minimum pressure.

Moderate hikes, he said, help Maynilad’s customers cope with falling income levels during economic downturns while higher capital expenditure for expanding facilities would generate jobs, bring piped water to more households and boost health standard through better sanitation.