Construction works for a desalination plant — which converts seawater into potable water — in Iloilo City have officially started, with a groundbreaking ceremony held on Feb. 21.
The P5.5-billion desalination plant in Barangay Ingore, La Paz district “will provide a long-term solution to the water challenges of Iloilo,” according to Metro Pacific Water (MPW) president Cristopher Andrew Pangilinan.
Once operational, the Metro Iloilo Desalination Facility is expected to produce up to 66,500 cubic meters per day, benefiting over 400,000 current and future residents of the city.
The state-of-the-art desalination facility will utilize advanced reverse osmosis technology to convert raw saltwater into safe drinking water.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) chairman, president and chief executive officer Manny V. Pangilinan and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
They were joined by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, among others.
“This exceptional initiative seeks to ensure a consistent and reliable supply of potable water for Ilonggos, enhancing their quality of life while bolstering Iloilo’s infrastructure and driving economic growth,” Treñas said.
The project is a joint effort between MPW, a wholly owned subsidiary of MPIC, France-based water and waste management solutions provider SUEZ, and JEMCO.IMT
