ILOILO CITY — Metro Pacific Water (MPW) is scaling up its footprint in Iloilo with more than P11 billion in new projects, on top of the P4.2 billion it has already poured into rehabilitating the province’s aging water system.
“MPW has been a partner of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) for several years, and we recognize that the road to addressing Iloilo’s water challenges has not been easy,” MPW President and CEO Andrew Pangilinan said.
“We are not here to offer a quick fix. Quick fixes are what left Iloilo struggling in the first place. We are here to build a system that can stand for decades—one that future generations will not need to question.”
The planned capital program will fund both short- and long-term upgrades, according to Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW), the joint venture company serving Iloilo City and seven neighboring municipalities.
“Short-term projects include pipe replacements and upgrades in HS Jaro, Diversion, Q. Abeto, Iloilo City Proper, Mansaya, Bo. Obrero, and Sinikway,” said MPIW Commercial Support Services Department head Annie Mae Salonga.
“For the long-term, we have started developing the 66.5 million liters per day (MLD) Desalination Plant and a 5 MLD modular facility to help secure Iloilo’s water supply.”
Salonga said the utility has also standardized more than 28,000 meters to ensure fair and accurate billing.
“Old meters degrade over time and no longer provide accurate readings. Standardization ensures that the consumption recorded is exactly what the customer is charged—no more, no less,” she said.
MPIW Chief Operating Officer David Berba emphasized that customer trust underpins the expansion. “Water is not just a commodity—it is life itself. It is the mother cooking rice for her family, the student washing before school, the worker refreshing after a long day. That is why trust is so important in this service. And trust is not built by words—it is built when Ilonggos turn on their taps and water flows, day after day,” he said.
Despite the heavy investment pipeline, Salonga clarified that any adjustments in water rates would be determined by MIWD and regulated by the Local Water Utilities Administration. She noted that rates have not changed since 2018 despite rising operating costs.
“With the improvement of water services through service level projects, customers will enjoy 24/7 safe and reliable water supply and will feel that their payments are truly worth it,” she said.
MPW, through MPIW, entered Iloilo in 2019 to take over what it described as a heavily strained and outdated network.
The company now serves more than 860,000 people across Iloilo City and seven municipalities, stretching over 572 square kilometers and the Tigum-Aganan Watersheds.
Rolling out these projects, the company added, requires coordination with multiple regulators—including MIWD, LWUA, and the National Water Resources Board—as well as the priorities of eight local governments.
