METROPOLITAN Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco will push for the rehabilitation of Laguna de Bay to boost water supply for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Velasco said he will recommend to Malacañang the massive rehabilitation of Laguna de Bay, a 90,000-hectare freshwater lake.
Aside from the Kaliwa Dam, Velasco said Laguna de Bay is a potential source of freshwater. However, because of its current condition, Laguna de Bay will require massive rehabilitation, he said.
Maynilad Water Services Inc. is drawing 150 million liters per day from Laguna de Bay which it treats at the Putatan Water Treatment Plant. The recently operated Cardona Water Treatment Plant of Manila Water Co. Inc. started drawing water from Laguna de Bay on March 14. By the end of the year, it is expected to produce 100 MLD.
The Laguna de Bay, he said, can potentially supply around 12,000 MLD of raw water.
“That is why I said maybe, let us push through with the program to dredge Laguna de Bay and remove problems so that it will not be costly to use,” he said.
Velasco defended the decision of the Duterte administration to pursue the P12.2 billion, 600 MLD New Centennial Water Source—Kaliwa Dam Project against critics, saying it is by far cheaper than the $410-million Kaliwa Intake Weir Project offer of a Japanese firm. Aside from Kaliwa Dam, the Duterte administration is also eyeing the revival of the Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal.
Velasco said the Duterte administration has put in place short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions to the perennial water-supply shortage in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, including the possibility of drawing more water from Laguna de Bay.
He said that at a recent meeting with other members of the Duterte cabinet, he brought up the idea of pushing through the plan to rehabilitate Laguna de Bay.
Velasco added that hopefully, in the next 5 to 7 years, with the Kaliwa Dam in place and other initiatives of the MWSS together with Maynilad and Manila Water, there will be an adequate supply of water for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.