Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water Company will develop the PHP717m ($16m) Sumag River Diversion Project to provide Manila and surrounding areas with additional water supply.
A 600m tunnel will be constructed from Sumag River in General Nakar, Quezon province to the Umirat-Angat Transbasin Tunnel in Angat, Bulacan. The tunnel is expected to increase the inflow of water to Angat Dam by 188 million litres a day upon completion, catering to the increasing water requirements of residents in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
Maynilad Water Services corporate communications head Cherubim Mojica said that construction of the project will take 18 months starting from the issuance of notice to go ahead.
The companies will share the total project cost and have engaged Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development as contractor for the project.
Maynilad, which provides water and wastewater services to residents in most of Manila, reported a 9% increase in profits to P6.936bn ($156m) in 2013 from P6.380bn ($143m) in 2012.
Manila Water provides water and wastewater services to the east zone concession area covering various cities of Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Marikina; parts of Manila and Quezon City, and also some Rizal province areas.