Manila: Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) is preparing to expand its distribution network by 5,137 lineal meters, extending from the Mandurriao district to Barangay Cagbang in Oton, Iloilo. This expansion is part of a strategy to accommodate additional water supply from a proposed desalination plant.

According to Philippines News Agency, the PHP92-million project aims to create a direct link to Emerald Estates in Oton. It is projected to provide 2,398 additional service connections by 2027, expanding to 3,960 connections by 2030. Construction is slated to commence in January 2027 following the recent signing of a memorandum of agreement between MPIW and Iloilo Southprime Developers Inc.

The agreement was signed by MPIW Chief Operating Officer Angelo David Berba and Iloilo Southprime officials, including Chief Operating Officer Carson Choa, Vice President for Finance and Iloilo and Bacolod Area Head Carvin Choa, and Project Director Wilson Saldon. Berba noted that the developer would cover half of the project costs, as the expansion is being executed ahead of its initial 2029 schedule.

Berba assured that the project would not affect the current water supply in Iloilo City. He highlighted MPIW's efforts to mitigate nonrevenue water losses, with expectations to recuperate 8 million to 10 million liters per day. "The project duration is one year, so while waiting, it will all flow going to the city," Berba explained.

The expansion will feature pipelines ranging from 150 to 250 millimeters in diameter, designed to accommodate additional water from the 66.5-million-liter-per-day desalination plant. MPIW aims for partial energization of the plant by December 2027, with at least half of its capacity operational by that time.

The full energization of the plant is anticipated by the second quarter of 2028. Once fully operational, the desalination plant is expected to supply approximately 50 percent of MPIW's service areas in Iloilo City, as stated by Berba.