Driven by its commitment to provide accessible and safe water to every Filipino, Tubig Pilipinas is strengthening its position as one of the fast-growing water utility companies in the country through its wastewater treatment services.
The company shared that among its 12 operation sites in Luzon and Visayas, their first Septage Treatment Plant (STP) will be built for the Municipality of Coron in Palawan through their partnership with Coron Rural Waterworks and Sanitation Association (CRWASA).
Tubig Pilipinas President Ryan Yapkianwee said that the construction and operation of STP is part of their service obligations in areas where they operate and initiate joint ventures.
“Currently, we have five projects under contract with wastewater treatment as part of our service obligations. One of which is with CRWASA Tubig Coron wherein the planning, design, land purchase, and clearing operation were already done. We are preparing for the actual construction which we are targeting to start before the end of 2023,” Yapkianwee said.
“Having a wastewater treatment infrastructure is critical for top tourist destinations such as Coron as this protects natural resources such as beaches and wildlife from pollution and contamination,” Yapkianwee explained.
He added that such a worst case scenario would definitely impact the livelihood opportunities of the locals.
In 2022, it has been recorded Coron welcomed more than 100,000 tourists; second to El Nido’s almost 250,000 visitors.
Meanwhile, CRWSA Tubig Pilipinas collaborates with the community, non-governmental organizations, and the local government unit to ensure that Coron’s source of water is protected and conserved such as the Mabentangen Watershed.
The watershed is a critical component in Tubig Pilipinas’s operations as it is one of the major sources of water of the two water service providers in Coron – supplying domestic and commercial water supporting the tourism industry, which is the major economic driver of the municipality.
Yapkianwee shared that regular tree planting activities are conducted by CRSWA Tubig Coron at Mabentangen Watershed. They also initiated the establishment of Watershed Management Council, Bantay Gubat, and Forest Rangers in Coron, which supports and complements the efforts of government agencies.
Furthermore, CRSWA Tubig Coron contributes to the empowerment of Barangay Waterworks and Sanitation Association (BAWASA) by regularly extending technical support and assistance through the provision of training and seminars on operation and management, basic bookkeeping, financial management, and strategic planning for community managed watersheds.
According to Yapkianwee, the company will continue to collaborate with public and private sectors to mainstream sustainable development in communities and provide people with easy access to clean water.