DUMAGUETE CITY— Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW), a partnership between Dumaguete City Water District and Metro Pacific Water, is committing a P524-M investment over the next five years to significantly enhance the city's water supply and services. The capital expenditure (CAPEX) program is a key component of the company's long-term master plan to ensure reliable and affordable water for all residents.
Engr. Robert R. Cabiles, MDW's chief operating officer, shared the details of this ambitious plan during a recent presentation to the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dumaguete. The investment will help improve and expand the water distribution network through various capital projects.
Capital Projects and Milestones
Cabiles highlighted the company's achievements to date, which are a foundation for future projects. In the past year, MDW has established two new pumping stations, PS 21 and 22, which have augmented the city's water supply by 6.7 million liters per day (MLD). The company has also rehabilitated over 9 kilometers of distribution pipeline and laid an additional 4 kilometers of transmission pipeline, expanding its network and improving efficiency.
These initial improvements have contributed to MDW covering 95% of the city’s 135,000 residents. The P524-M investment will be directed towards four key areas: service improvements, non-revenue water (NRW) management, source development, and the employment of new technologies. Cabiles stated, "The operational targets we highlighted before this August Chamber in July 2022, which includes ensuring potable water quality, reliable supply availability and pressure, and wider service area coverage, are even ahead of schedule."
Addressing Remaining Challenges
While acknowledging the significant progress, Cabiles recognized that some areas of the city still do not enjoy 24/7 water availability. He noted that these specific zones have been identified and are a priority in the new master plan. “These zones have been identified in our first five years of operations and have been factored into our masterplan. The sustainable solutions for these areas have been identified and will be rolled out in the next 1-3 years,” Cabiles said.
The CAPEX programs will directly address these issues. Plans include the development of a new pumping station to add supply to northern barangays and the necessary pipe upgrades to cope with population and demand growth. Cabiles stated, "Investment in new infrastructure and technologies is part of Metro Dumaguete Water’s plans to further improve the services of water distribution in the City. The allocation for next year’s CAPEX is a testament to our commitment to this."
Customer-Centric Approach
Beyond infrastructure, MDW has also invested in customer service programs to bring the company closer to its consumers. These initiatives include the introduction of over 1,000 new payment partners, including local sari-sari stores and digital platforms. Additionally, the company launched a 24/7 customer service hotline, a first for water utilities in the region, to ensure that emergency cases, such as leaks, are attended to immediately. “Metro Dumaguete Water has always put the consumers at the center of its service. We listen to our customers. The 24/7 hotline service shows that we are now ready to cater to emergency requests at any time,” Cabiles said.
Despite the substantial capital expenditures, Cabiles assured the council that MDW continues to offer one of the most affordable water rates in the province, with a minimum charge of P202.50. He emphasized the company's mission to provide "safe and affordable water to the Dumagueteños." He concluded, “We are keeping our rates fair and reasonable. We can only uplift lives in the City by providing safe and affordable water to the Dumagueteños.
