President Bongbong Marcos on Friday led the inauguration of Tunnel No. 5 under the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP), framing the long-overdue upgrade as a key investment to safeguard Metro Manila’s 20 million consumers from future water shortages.
The 6.4-kilometer tunnel, capable of carrying 1.6 billion liters per day, strengthens the Umiray–Angat–Ipo–La Mesa system, much of which dates back to the 1930s and 1960s. The project was completed through a fully aligned collaboration among MWSS, Maynilad, and Manila Water under the Common Purpose Facility.
Fresh from his push for transparency in infrastructure spending amid the flood control scandal, Marcos highlighted the project as a model for effective government–private sector partnership.
“Right now, almost 90% of the water used by almost 20 million people in Metro Manila, in Bulacan, parts of Cavite and Rizal pass through them, this system… And this is why the establishment of Tunnel No. 5 is not only important, it is essential,” he said.
“Water is a lifeline for our communities and every Filipino deserves dependable access to it.”
The tunnel raises water transport capacity from six billion to nearly eight billion liters per day. Marcos said this would help stabilize supply across the metropolis.
“Ibig sabihin, mas maraming pamilya ang magkakaroon ng tuloy-tuloy at maaasahang supply ng tubig sa kanilang mga tahanan,” he noted.
The added capacity also enables the rehabilitation of older tunnels without disrupting distribution.
“Yung mga tunnel po na sinara dahil kailangan nang mag-maintenance… maaari na ngayon natin buksan, balikan ulit, baka may pag-asa pa, baka may rehab pa para magamit pa rin natin,” he said.
Marcos stressed the project’s importance as the country faces harsher droughts and climate pressures.
“Mas magiging handa ang ating mga komunidad sa panahon ng tagtuyot at iba pang epekto ng ating hinaharap na climate change,” he added.