The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) will deploy a monitoring team to assess the situation on the ground as the scheduled seismic retrofitting project of Manila Water Company, Inc. (Manila Water) outset today (March 4).
“We will deploy our monitoring team to assure that alternative water supplies will be available to the affected residents living in parts of Rizal province,” MWSS-RO Chief Regulator Joel Yu said.
Manila Water implemented a seismic retrofitting project as part of its natural calamity mitigation plan to ensure reliability of water services to thousands of residents in the East Zone in the event of natural calamities, especially earthquake where water pipes might be at risk of breakage or collapse should a magnitude 7.2 earthquake happens.
“It is the mandate of the MWSS through its concessionaires to provide continuous service for its customers by mitigating possible impacts of natural calamities,” MWSS-RO Deputy Administrator for Customer Service Regulation Area Atty. Vincent Pepito Yambao, Jr. said
The East Zone Concessionaire revealed that the project will cause 72-hour water interruption from March 15 to March 18, 2015 in various barangays in Marikina, San Mateo and Rodriguez, Rizal.
“Both MWSS-RO and Manila Water are working to ensure that needed services are provided to assure continues water supply in the affected areas. In this case, thousands of Marikina and Rizal residents have been advised early on by Manila Water to brace themselves for dry taps, which will last 72 hours,” Yu added.
The project, which will be implemented from March 4 to 29, 2015 involves the installation of several seismic joints along the 1.3-meter diameter pipe in Rodriguez, Rizal. It has gained the approval of the provincial and local government units of the affected areas in Marikina City and Rizal Province.
Field monitoring is conducted by the MWSS-RO in the event a major planned water service interruption occurs lasting more than 24 hours and affecting a relatively large number of water service accounts.
Manila Water disclosed that an alternative water supply plan that includes the installation of static tanks and water delivery through tankers was already formulated as the project will cause water interruption in various barangays.
72-hour water interruption from 10:00 PM, March 15 to 10:00 PM, March 18 will affect the areas of Hillside and Cortijos Subdivision in Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez, and Marang Road in Brgy. Maly and Villa San Mateo I in Brgy. Guitnangbayan 2 in San Mateo, Rizal.
Meanwhile, 12-hour water interruption from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM from March 16-18 is expected in the following barangays in Rodriguez, Rizal: Brgy San Rafael, Brgy.Geronimo, Brgy. San Isidro, Brgy. Burgos, Brgy. Balite, Brgy. San Jose, Brgy. Manggahan and Brgy. Rosario; in San Mateo, Rizal: Brgy. Maly, Brgy. Ampid 1, Brgy. Ampid 2, Brgy. Banaba, Brgy. Guitnangbayan 1, Brgy. Guitnangbayan 2, Brgy. Dulong Bayan 1, Brgy. Dulong Bayan 2, Brgy. Sto.Niño, Brgy. Silangan, Brgy. Sta. Ana, Brgy. Malanday, Brgy. Gulod Malaya, Brgy. Guinayang; and in Marikina City: Brgy. Concepcion Uno, Brgy. Concepcion Dos, Brgy. Fortune, Brgy Nangka, Brgy. Marikina Heights, Brgy. Parang and Brgy. Tumana.