ILOILO City — Mayor Raisa Treñas defended the permitting process for the proposed Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) desalination plant in Barangay Ingore, La Paz district, stressing that the multibillion-peso project remains vital to Iloilo City’s long-term water security even as it faces compliance and construction permit issues.
Treñas clarified that the project was not stalled for eight months by City Hall, contrary to claims raised by MPIW officials regarding delays in permit processing at the Office of the Building Official (OBO).
“I instructed the Office of the Building Official to review MPIW’s statement regarding the alleged delay,” she said.
“Based on OBO records, the application was officially filed only on March 26, 2026, and there are still existing deficiencies that need to be complied with,” she added.
The mayor emphasized that while the city government supports the desalination facility, it cannot disregard mandatory building and safety requirements.
“The OBO provides technical assistance and follows mandatory safety and building regulations. These processes cannot be bypassed,” she said.
Treñas also called for fairness and accuracy in public discussions involving the project.
“We must remain fair and factual in providing information,” Treñas said.
She revealed that MPIW has direct communication channels with her office, including a Viber group intended for immediate coordination, and said concerns could have been brought directly to her attention sooner.
“I would have appreciated it if MPIW had informed me regarding their concern. We have direct communication and a Viber group for coordination,” she said.
Despite the controversy, Treñas reiterated the importance of the desalination project to the city’s long-term strategy for addressing increasing water demand and supply vulnerabilities.
“We want this project to proceed because it is part of the long-term solution to the city’s water supply. However, safety, completeness of requirements, and due process must always be followed,” she said.
The MPIW desalination plant is designed to produce around 65.5 million liters of water daily, making it one of the largest proposed water infrastructure projects in Iloilo City.
Desalination removes salt and impurities from seawater or brackish water to produce potable water. The technology is increasingly being adopted in coastal urban centers facing water shortages, drought risks, and growing populations.
Once operational, the Ingore facility is expected to use advanced filtration systems, including reverse osmosis technology, to convert seawater into treated water that can be integrated into Iloilo City’s distribution network.
City officials have previously described the project as a critical component of Iloilo’s long-term water security strategy amid recurring supply challenges and rising urban demand.
Originally targeted for completion by early 2027, the project timeline has been moved to 2028 due partly to permitting and compliance requirements tied to construction regulations./PN
