Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System[1] (Tagalog: Pangasiwaan ng Tubig at Alkantarilya sa Kalakhang Maynila),[5] formerly known as the National Waterworks and Sewerage System Authority (NAWASA), is the government agency that is in charge of water privatization in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Cavite and Rizal in the Philippines.[6][7] It split the water concession into an east and a west concession with Manila Water being awarded one contract and Maynilad Water Services being awarded the other.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System
Pangasiwaan ng Tubig at Alkantarilya sa Kalakhang Maynila
MWSS

MWSS Headquarters
Agency overview
FormedJune 19, 1971; 53 years ago (1971-06-19)[1]
Preceding agencies
  • Carriedo Water System (1882)
  • Manila Water Supply System (1908)
  • Metropolitan Water District (1919)
  • National Waterworks and Sewerage System Authority (1955)
TypeRegulatory agency
HeadquartersKatipunan Avenue, Balara, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Annual budget5.69 billion (2022)[2]
Agency executive
Parent departmentOffice of the President (Philippines)
Websitemwss.gov.ph Edit this at Wikidata

History

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Zones of Metro Manila allocated to Maynilad Water (red) and Manila Water (blue)
NAWASA (1955, building, Aroceros, Manila in 2016)
Facade of Filtration Plant No. 1 of Balara Filters Park in February 2014

The first water system in the Philippines was initiated by the Spanish Philanthropist, Francisco Carriedo y Peredo.[8] Carriedo donated funds to be used in Manila; however, it was never realized until a century later, when the Spanish Franciscan friar Felix Huerta tracked down the funds donated by Carriedo, and instigated the development of the Carriedo Water System.[9][10] The construction of the water system delivered 16 million liters of water per day to 300,000 people. By 1909, the capacity of the system was increased to 92 million liters per day by the addition of pumping facilities and the construction of Wawa Dam.

With its expansion of responsibilities, the institution changed its name several times from the Carriedo Water System, to the Manila Water Supply System in 1908, to the Metropolitan Water District in 1919, to the National Waterworks and Sewerage System Authority (Pangasiwaan ng Pambansang Tubig at Alkantarilya), and finally, to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) in 1971.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office

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The MWSS Regulatory Office (RO) was created in August 1997 by virtue of the Concession Agreements signed between the MWSS and the two concessionaires, Manila Water Company, Inc.[11] for the East Zone and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. for the West Zone.

RO functions as a collegial body composed of five members headed by the Director or Chief Regulator who has over-all responsibility for the operation of the office. Other members are the Regulators for Technical Regulation, Customer Service Regulation, Financial Regulation and Administration and Legal Affairs.

Any action or decision by the RO on substantive matters affecting the Concession Agreement requires at least a majority vote of three members. The Chief Regulator chairs the meeting of the Regulatory Office and has the final approval over the hiring and dismissal of all professional staff of the RO. He also acts as the principal spokesperson of the office.

RO is mandated to monitor the Concession Agreement. Among its many functions, RO reviews, monitor and enforces rates and service standards; arranges and reports regular independent audits of the performance of the Concessionaires; and monitors the infrastructure assets. However, RO's functions may change over time for effective regulation of water and sewerage services.

Organization

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Former Directors & Administrators
NameTenure of office

Paul W. Mack[a]1930–1934
Gregorio Anonas1934–1938
Ambrosio Magsaysay1938–1947
Manuel Mañosa1947–1955
Susano R. Nagado[b]1955–1963
Jesus C. Perlas1963–1966
Antonio C. Menor1966–1969
Sergio M. Isada[c]1969–1976
Oscar J. Ilustre1976–1983
Abor P. Canlas1983–1986
Jose Yap1986–1987
Luis V. Sison1987–1992
Teofilo J. Asuncion1992–1994
Ruben A. Hernandez1994–1995
Dr. Angel L. Lazaro III1995–1997
Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea1997–2000
Jose F. Mabanta2000–2001
Orlando C. Hondrade2001–2006
Lorenzo H. Jamora2007–2008
Diosdado Jose M. Allado2008–2010
Gerardo A. I. Esquivel2010–2011
Rogelio L. Singson2011–2017
Reynaldo V. Velasco2017–2019
Emmanuel Salamat2019–2021
Leonor C. Cleofas[d]Incumbent

References[12][13][14][15][16][4]

Private Concessionaires

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Notes

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  1. ^ As head of Metropolitan Water District
  2. ^ As head of National Waterworks and Sewerage System Authority (NAWASA) starting 1955
  3. ^ As head of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) starting 1971
  4. ^ First female administrator

References

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  1. ^ a b Republic Act No. 6234 (June 19, 1971), AN ACT CREATING THE METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM AND DISSOLVING THE NATIONAL WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE AUTHORITY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, The LAWPhil Project, retrieved October 31, 2023
  2. ^ "Corporate Operating Budget Fiscal Year 2022" (PDF). Department of Budget and Management. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  3. ^ Romero, Maria (February 1, 2023). "MWSS: Kaliwa Dam operational by 2027". Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Iñares, Antonio (October 24, 2023). "Manila Water inks MOA with MWSS, Maynilad on watershed management, protection". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  5. ^ Mga Pangalan ng Tanggapan ng Pamahalaan sa Filipino (PDF) (2013 ed.). Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. 2013. p. 41. ISBN 978-971-0197-22-4.
  6. ^ Dumol, Mark (2000). The Manila Water Concession: A Key Government Official's Diary of the World's Largest Water Privatization. United States of America: The World Bank. ISBN 0-8213-4711-X.
  7. ^ Presidential Decree No. 1406 (June 7, 1978), FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 6243, ENTITLED “AN ACT CREATING THE METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,” AS AMENDED, Official Gazette of the Philippines, retrieved October 31, 2023
  8. ^ "Don Francisco Carriedo and Manila's First Water System". With One's Past. January 7, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  9. ^ Jimenez, FR (April 13, 2013). "Sino si Felix Huerta at bakit ipinangalan sa kanya ang isang kalye sa Sta Cruz area?". GMA News Online (in Filipino). Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  10. ^ Ocampo, Ambeth R. (March 29, 2019). "The Carriedo water system". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  11. ^ "Concession Agreement (Service Area East) between Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and Manila Water Company, Inc" (PDF). World Bank. February 21, 1997. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  12. ^ "Tandang Sora Avenue, Quezon City: The History of the MWSS Administration Building". Lakbay ng Lakan. WordPress. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  13. ^ Basilio Jr, Robert JA (April 15, 2008). "MWSS exec who discovered anomalies finally leaves post". GMA News Online. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  14. ^ Legaspi, Amita O. (October 4, 2011). "PNoy appoints DPWH's Singson as water czar". GMA News Online. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  15. ^ Miraflor, Madelaine B. (September 30, 2021). "Velasco quits MWSS top post". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  16. ^ Ranada, Pia (July 31, 2019). "Retired general Salamat appointed MWSS board member". Rappler. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. "Our Concessionaires". Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
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