CLARK FREEPORT — Some P4 billion has been earmarked by the Clark Water Corp. (CWC) for its capital expenditures (capex) up to 2040 for the diversification of its water source, upgrading ofits water treatment facilities and delivery network within this freeport and its special economic zone.
According to Jesus Laigo, CWC general manager and chief operating officer, more than P1 billion of the capex allocation will be pumped into an array of rojects CWC has lined up in the next four years. For this year, the company has sunk in P200 million in capex projects such as the drilling of ad-craftditional wells and sustainedimprovement of its piping or delivery network,Laigo said in last Friday’s weekly mediaforum “Balitaan” organized by the Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI) in cooperation with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) andthe Social Security System (SSS) at the Bale Balita here.
Next year’s P300 million capex will cover the construction of new water treatment facilities, storage tanks and booster facilities, including the commissioning of newwater sources, he addCWC, which is now solely dependent on the water table for its source of water, has taken stepsto tap surface water sources like the Marimla and Sacobia rivers in preparation for the projected rise in water demand in its concession area.
The feasibility studies on the sourcing of water from the two rivers will be completed next year and “we’re expecting positive results,” Laigo said. The subsidiary of Manila Water Company, Inc. is also upgrading its wastewater treatment plant in a bid to encourage some of its commercial clients, like the golfcourses, to use treated water in some areas of their operations.
Three new wells drilled by the firm are scheduled to start operating next year which should further buttress CWC’s reliability as a ater supplier in the freeport. CWC’s current extraction rate stands at 35 illion liters per day, two illion liters more thanthe daily demand of 33 million liters. Laigo said businesshas so far been good for the water enterprise.
The P80 million net income it realized last year is forecast to rise this year to P83 million. Cheap and potable Laigo also dismissed as rumors of Clark water’salleged toxic waste contamination. To dispel the rumors, Laigo and other CWC officers drank water straight from the faucet to demonstrate its potability.Laigo said Clark water costs much less at P22.69 per cubic meter as compared to P27.75 per cubic meter of the piped-in water in Metro Manila.
