MANILA, Philippines — West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. expects its capital expenditure budget to decrease slightly next year as the utility provider shifts its focus toward long-term water resilience and mitigating El Niño risks.
During a media briefing on Thursday, November 5, Maynilad Chief Financial Officer Ricardo Delos Reyes announced that the company projects a capital outlay of ₱27.5 billion for 2027, marking a 1.79% decline from its projected full-year 2026 forecast of ₱28 billion.
The planned reduction follows a busy investment period that saw Maynilad deploy ₱19.5 billion in capital expenditures during the first nine months of the year—a 5.1% increase compared to the ₱18.6 billion recorded over the same period in 2025.
These funds have been channeled into expanding water treatment systems, upgrading wastewater networks, and improving overall customer operations.
“At the moment, we are preparing our proposal of service obligation targets and its progression through the end of the concession, as well as the capex implementation program that will enable us to achieve those targets,” Delos Reyes told reporters.
As part of its operational pivot to combat potential dry spells, Maynilad is prioritizing structural water security and accelerating efforts to lower non-revenue water (NRW), which refers to water lost through leaks, inaccurate metering, or illegal connections.
Chief Operating Officer Christopher Lichauco noted that these efficiency measures have driven down the NRW rate to 29.3% at the end of September, down from 32.8% during the same timeframe last year.
Meanwhile, incoming President and CEO Ramon Alikpala, slated to assume office in January 2027, assured stakeholders that investments in climate adaptation will remain a priority.
“We want to ensure that we do continue investing in improving the systems and expanding our services,” Alikpala said, emphasizing that long-term water reliability will anchor his upcoming tenure.
Outgoing President Ramoncito Fernandez, who departs after leading the company for over a decade, expressed confidence that Maynilad holds the structural momentum necessary to push through with critical developments despite growing environmental pressures.
“Sustained capital allocations remain vital to supporting population-driven demand across the region, securing service continuity, and protecting stakeholder value,” Fernandez added.