WB sees NEDA approval for wastewater project in Jan.

THE WORLD Bank expects government approvals for a Metro Manila wastewater management project to be completed by January.

“LBP (Land Bank of the Philippines) and MWCI (Manila Water Company Inc.) are working on the completion of all the project evaluation requirements of NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority). NEDA approval/decision is being awaited and is expected to be received within January 2019,” the World Bank said in its implementation and status report yesterday.

The project seeks to improve wastewater collection and treatment practices in catchment areas of Metro Manila by supporting investments of water concessionaires MWCI and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (MWSI) — through LBP.

The project began in October 2012. At the end of November 2018 it was 73% complete and absorbed 65.42% of the $275 loan facility offered by the World Bank.

“The support mission conducted in May 2018 and its consequent monthly follow-through activities maintain the findings from earlier missions that MWSI will fully disburse and physically complete its programmed works, while MWCI may not fully complete its programmed works. MWCI’s implementation program continues to experience delays due to the local government’s action to limit construction works that affect roads (i.e. sewer pipe laying) and worsen traffic congestion in the densely populated project areas,” the World Bank said.

NEDA and the World Bank recommended to have seven additional sewer network sub-projects from the Marikina and UP Sewerage Systems to replace the four conveyance subprojects in the Ilugin Sewerage System.

“The replacement of delayed conveyance sub-projects of MWCI with fast-moving conveyance sub-projects will allow the full utilization of the loan and the achievement the PDO (project development objective). The project is being closely supervised and monitored by the Bank and LBP team through monthly coordination reporting since June 2018.”

According to the World Bank, Metro Manila generates about 2 million cubic meters of wastewater daily, with only 17% of the total treated before being discharged and largely ending up in Manila Bay.