Maynilad Water Services , Inc . has helped a large population of Metro Manila reap huge dividends in health and lifestyle benefits , thanks to an IT transformation of its water service
The Philippines is not a country that suffers from a lack of water . The capital Manila enjoys an average monthly rainfall of around eight inches , and its 22 million population does not generally go thirsty . However like every large city that has grown through rapid urbanisation , it has struggled to modernise its infrastructure at the pace required . Managing the supply of clean water and the downstream activities of runoff and sewerage management were inadequate prior to 1997 when the water service was privatised . The government-owned Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System served the metropolitan area , however , a significant proportion of sewage ended up in storm drains or open canals . It was neither an efficient nor a healthy situation .
In 1997 , the government awarded contracts to two companies , splitting Metro Manila into west and east zones . The West Zone went to Maynilad Water Services , Inc . ( Maynilad ), a consortium that subsequently ran into financial difficulties and returned the concession to the government . In 2007 , water services were again placed in private hands — under the DMCI-MPIC Water Consortium . New management subsequently implemented the necessary intervention and poured the needed investments that made possible Maynilad ’ s dramatic turnaround from financially crippled utility to consumer-focused organisation .
Today , Maynilad is under the ownership of three principal shareholders : Metro Pacific Investments Corporation which holds majority shares at 53 percent ; DMCI
28 January 2017