Hydration heroes

Constant access to clean water is a privilege often taken for granted. Yet for billions of people, it remains an unattainable luxury.

“I think today we have about 10 million unserved Filipinos who don’t have access to clean portable water,” explains Andrew Pangilinan, President and CEO of Metro Pacific Water, the infrastructure investment arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).

Working closely with its network of subsidiaries and partners, Pangilinan is overseeing bold public infrastructure projects that promise to improve the standard of living in communities across the Philippines.

“What we provide is one of the most basic human needs. We want to expand our reach and have a bigger footprint across the entire country,” he says. “The Philippines has so much room for improvement and so much potential.”

Bold infrastructure projects

Since Pangilinan took on the role of President and CEO nearly two years ago, he has bolstered the company’s strategic partnerships, which promise to improve access to clean water in underserved regions. As part of a broader water infrastructure push, US$88 million has been earmarked specifically for the company’s desalination project.

“We recently entered into a groundbreaking project in Iloilo, which is one of our flagship concessions right now under Metro Pacific Water,” Pangilinan explains.

“Iloilo currently lacks sufficient water coverage, so we’re partnering with Suez, a major global industrial player, to build a desalination plant. This will be a 66.5-million-liter-per-day plant that will be operational in 2027 and will serve 400,000 people.”

Desalination plants not only address the basic water needs of Filipinos but also help mitigate key environmental and sustainability challenges facing the water sector.

“Here in the Philippines, we rely heavily on groundwater for most of our water supply,” he says. “What many people don’t realize is that groundwater depletion is actually one of the contributing factors to flooding.”

With a climate that is notorious for its heavy rainfall and destructive typhoon season, flooding is a major concern in the Philippines – with climate change only exacerbating matters. But Pangilinan is confident that a more environmentally secure future can be realized.

“One way to address these concerns is by looking at other sources besides groundwater, such as what we are doing with the Iloilo desalination plant,” he continues. “Since we’re a country surrounded by water, we have constant access to seawater, making it a readily available and highly sustainable resource.”

Looking ahead to the future, Pangilinan sees its Iloilo plant as a blueprint to bring sustainable water security to Filipinos.

“We’re optimistic this will be a success story for Iloilo, and once we operationalize this in two years’ time, this could be replicated easily across the Philippines,” he says.

Supportive subsidiaries

Pangilinan believes a key driver of the operational excellence Metro Pacific Water is known for lies in the organizational structure established by its parent company MPIC.

“I think a strong factor is that we’re backed by a big group,” he says. “We are one of the fully owned subsidiaries of MPIC.”

Among others, its subsidiaries include Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW), Metro Pacific Water Solutions, Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW) and Metro Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Corporation (MIB). The relationship within this family of companies is harmonious and mutually beneficial, helping to drive the company to greater success.

“At Metro Pacific Water, our approach to working with subsidiaries is rooted in agility, strategic support and innovation-driven collaboration,” Pangilinan continues.

“We empower each subsidiary with the autonomy to effectively address their local community’s specific needs while supporting them through strategic direction, digital innovation and shared expertise.”

Pangilinan goes on to explain how key subsidiaries perform a vital, yet distinct, role in the wider organization. Each is dedicated to its own program of innovation, furthering operational excellence and improving the lives of the communities within its remits.

“MPIW has expanded services significantly and continues to bring portable water to previously underserved communities,” Pangilinan says.

“MDW has not only improved operations but has also gained international recognition for its sustainability and service initiatives. Through a proactive and customer-centric approach, communities in its service area benefit from support programs anchored in education, health and innovation.”

This dedication to achieving ESG goals is also prevalent in MIB and MPWS, which remains focused on guaranteeing climate-friendly water services.

“MIB ensures the sustainability of the water supply through resilient infrastructure and environmental stewardship,” Pangilinan says.

“And MPWS continues to scale its efforts in building resilient water infrastructure, driving digital transformation and empowering local leadership.”

Community-driven spirit

Going forward, Pangilinan will continue to trust its subsidiaries to drive the ongoing success of the business. Ultimately, this supports Metro Pacific Water’s mission to uplift lives by providing safe water for all.

“We are proud of how our subsidiaries embody the Metro Pacific Water’s ethos: innovative, service-oriented and impact-driven. As we grow, we will continue investing in them,” he says.

“They are not just operators, but they are catalysts of inclusive and resilient development.”

It’s not just through water innovation that the company is making a difference in its communities. It has recently sponsored 10 students at the Tuloy Foundation, a Philippines-based non-governmental organization dedicated to providing educational support to marginalized children.

“We want this to be a long-term partnership, and Metro Pacific Water is excited to help them build skills, find good jobs and take steps toward a brighter tomorrow,” Pangilinan says of the program.

“Metro Pacific Water is a company that helps bring clean and safe water to communities in the Philippines, but we’re more than that. Beyond providing water, we believe in nurturing life and that includes reaching out to the youth who need it most.”