WATER SUPPLY PROJECT FINISHED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

THE second phase of the largest privately-led water supply infrastructure project in the country is expected to be finished ahead of schedule.

The project’s proponent, WawaJVCo Inc., said the 85-meter roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam was 93 percent complete as of February 28.

WawaJVCo is a joint venture between Filipino businessman Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. and San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group Inc.

The Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project in Rizal is one of the national government’s infrastructure flagship projects that aims to address water security.

Considered the largest water supply dam to be constructed in over 50 years, the project will increase Manila Water Co.’s (MWC) capacity by over 30 percent of its current water supply allocation from the Angat Dam of approximately 1,600 million liters per day (MLD).

“The Upper Wawa Dam will help address water security and ensure sustainable water supply to benefit over 700,000 households or about 3.5 million Filipinos within the service area of MWSS,” WawaJVCo said in a statement issued over the weekend.

“With its substantial capacity and innovative design, the dam holds immense potential to enhance water security and resilience, which will be a massive step in avoiding a water crisis in

Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” it added.

Apart from providing a reliable water supply source, the dam will also help mitigate the perennial problem of flooding in the downstream areas and localities of the Marikina River.

WawaJVCo said the Upper Wawa Dam’s design was based on gold standards for such facilities and built through state-of-the-art technology that would ensure the dam stays efficient and reliable in the long term.

The Tayabasan Weir, the first phase of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, became operational “in record time” in October 2022.

Commercial operation of the project is expected to start by late 2025.