ILOILO CITY — Mayor Raisa Treñas of this city has pressed Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) to accelerate its infrastructure projects as the city continues to grapple with inconsistent water supply.
“MPIW should double time,” said Treñas in a statement on Friday. “We cannot afford to wait until 2027 before our constituents feel consistent and adequate water supply.”
“Just like electricity, water is a basic necessity and it should be available every single day,” she stressed.
The mayor issued the statement following a meeting with Metro Pacific Water (MPW) Assistant Vice President for Business Development Jonet Salvilla on July 18. MPIW, a joint venture between MPW and the Metro Iloilo Water District, is Iloilo City’s main water distributor.
During the meeting, Salvilla reported that MPIW is set to open its first modular water treatment plant with a capacity of 1 million liters per day (MLD) by October 2025.
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A second 1 MLD facility is expected by December 2025, while a full 5 MLD output is projected to be operational by the second quarter of 2027.
While welcoming these developments, Treñas maintained that the proposed outputs remain insufficient given the city’s fast-growing water demands.
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“We acknowledge these as positive steps, but I made it clear that they still fall short compared to the current needs of our city,” she said.
The mayor also criticized MPIW’s lack of timely communication, particularly on pipeline replacement activities that have caused traffic bottlenecks in major areas.
Treñas further urged MPIW to take its commitments to pipeline upgrades seriously and ensure faster execution of these projects.
MPIW currently delivers around 60 to 80 MLD to the city and is working to expand its service coverage, upgrade aging infrastructure, improve water quality, and reduce non-revenue water (NRW).
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Among its major initiatives is a P400-million modular treatment plant targeting a 5 MLD capacity by end-2025, meant as an interim response to supply gaps.
The utility is also undertaking pipeline upgrades in Jaro, Iloilo City Proper, and Diversion Road, expected to recover 15 to 20 MLD in NRW losses.
Long-term plans include a P5.5-billion desalination facility in Barangay Ingore, La Paz. The plant, with an estimated capacity of 50 to 66.5 MLD, is eyed to be operational by 2026 to provide a sustainable, drought-resilient water source.
