MPIW inaugurates pipeline to improve water access for 1,500

Iloilo City Government and Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) officials lead the energization ceremony for the inauguration of the P7 million water pipeline project at Barangay Tabuc Suba on September 12, benefiting 1,500 residents, including those in Sitio Ilaya and Barangay San Isidro. (Mariela Angella Oladive photo)

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) has inaugurated a P7 million water pipeline project aimed at enhancing water access for 1,500 residents in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Barangay San Isidro, and the Uswag Condominium in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Spanning 925 linear meters and equipped with 150-millimeter diameter pipes, the newly installed pipeline promises to provide clean and safe water to underserved areas, many of which previously relied on shallow wells, raising concerns about water quality and health risks.

“The Sitio Ilaya Expansion Project is part of MPIW’s investment to achieve long-term service reliability for our customers,” said MPIW Chief Operating Officer Angelo David C. Berba during the ceremony. He emphasized that the project ensures a safer water supply and thanked the city government and local residents for their cooperation.

The project, part of a larger effort to expand MPIW’s service coverage, marks significant progress in addressing water service gaps across the city. Iloilo City Executive Assistant Raisa Treñas highlighted that MPIW has increased its coverage from 12 percent to 28 percent over the past five years, with a goal to reach 43 percent by early 2025.

The energization ceremony was attended by city officials, including Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzaon and several councilors, as MPIW outlined future projects aimed at further improving water services in Iloilo City.

MPIW has completed P25 million worth of service improvements this year and has five ongoing projects amounting to nearly P400 million, with additional projects valued at P350 million set to launch by the fourth quarter of 2024.