Mactan Rock commits P300M yearly for capex

Cebu-based bulk water supplier Mactan Rock Industries Inc. (MRII) is earmarking P300 million for capital expenditures per year in the next five years.

This will finance at least 20 big-ticket water projects, said MRII chairman Antonio Tompar.

In an interview, Tompar said the company is optimistic about their growth prospects in the coming years, considering the massive infrastructure program of the government.

He noted that as the government rolls out its big-ticket infrastructure projects like road networks and bridges, it will boost demand for more water installations.

As financial institutions open up their resources, more local government units and water districts will use this opportunity to improve basic services including sustainable water supply, Tompar said.

MRII supplies bulk water to water districts. It manufactures water treatment and wastewater treatment chemicals and equipment.

Tompar predicted that in the next five years, surface water utilization in the country will go up to deliver cheap water, including a mixture of seawater desalination and surface water.

“Surface water is becoming more popular and I am now installing (water) clarifiers,” he said, adding that this technology would be useful in big islands in which surface water source is threatened whenever there is a heavy downpour.

He added that treated surface water would be five times cheaper than desalinated seawater and well water.

MRII has already installed its water clarifier technology in places like Bacolod, Iloilo, Aparri, Midsayap, Cotabato, and Prosperidad, among others.

For this year, Tompar said that MRII is working with several projects for desalination water systems in different parts of the country. It also has projects with Metro Cebu Water District for additional bulk water supply for Talisay and Mactan.

Desalination is the process of turning seawater into potable drinking water by removing the salinity or salt components. Although, it is more expensive than surface water, Tompar said industries now realize it is better to pay higher fr water than to suffer from a water shortage.

MRII is celebrating its 35th year in the water business this year. Since its inception, it has built 70 plants both big and small (including its sister-companies) scattered across the country.

It now employs 600 workers.