MANILA, Philippines — Maynilad Water Services Inc. has named water sector veteran Ramon Alikpala as its next president and chief executive officer, succeeding long-serving leader Ramoncito Fernandez.
Alikpala’s appointment will officially take effect on January 1, 2027, following the retirement of Fernandez, who steered the West Zone concessionaire through an 11-year tenure. The leadership transition was disclosed in a regulatory filing submitted to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
Alikpala brings extensive regulatory, public-sector, and international experience to his new role. He previously served as chairman of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Board of Trustees and as executive director of the National Water Resources Board.
In the private and international development sectors, he led consulting firm FutureWater Asia as chief executive officer and advised multilateral institutions—such as the Asian Development Bank and the United States Agency for International Development—on water security and utility performance.
His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of the Philippines and a master’s degree in business administration in finance from Fordham University in New York, alongside professional certifications from the London School of Economics and the World Bank Institute.
Legacy of Outgoing Leadership
Alikpala steps into the top executive position following a period of major structural milestones achieved under Fernandez, who has served as President and CEO since January 1, 2016.
During his leadership, Fernandez spearheaded the execution of Maynilad’s Revised Concession Agreement and secured a 25-year legislative franchise that took effect in January 2022.
A landmark accomplishment of Fernandez’s tenure was Maynilad’s initial public offering (IPO) on November 7, 2025. The stock debut raised ₱34.3 billion, marking the second-largest stock debut in Philippine corporate history at the time.
The transaction closed 2.7 times oversubscribed due to strong institutional and retail demand, earning Maynilad the distinction of receiving the country’s first Green Equity label from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Prior to guiding Maynilad, Fernandez managed executive portfolios across the Pangilinan-led First Pacific Group’s infrastructure, telecommunications, tollways, and packaging operations beginning in 1997.
About Maynilad
Maynilad operates the West Zone concession of the Greater Manila area, providing essential water and wastewater services to millions of customers across parts of Manila, Quezon City, Makati, and surrounding municipalities in Cavite province.