Ensuring continuous water supply for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Last Friday, November 28, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of Tunnel No. 5, which is considered to be a key component of the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project.
The new tunnel strengthens the decades-old Umiray–Angat–Ipo–La Mesa system, the backbone that delivers water from Angat Dam to Metro Manila and to the rest of Mega Manila.
“This is why the establishment of Tunnel No. 5 is not only important, it is essential,” said the President, who unveiled the project marker at the Bigte Basin in Barangay Bigte.
The Umiray–Angat–Ipo–La Mesa system conveys almost 90 percent of the water used by nearly 20 million people in Metro Manila, Bulacan, and parts of Cavite and Rizal.
“These numbers show how important it is to keep the Angat system strong, reliable, and future-ready,” emphasized Marcos.
Tunnel No. 5’s raw water conveyance tunnel can carry over 1.6 billion liters of water per day, which increases the system’s transport capacity from 6 billion to almost 8 billion liters of water per day.
“Ibig sabihin, mas maraming pamilya ang magkakaroon ng tuloy-tuloy at maaasahang suplay ng tubig sa kanilang mga tahanan,” he added.
The President also noted that the commissioning of the fifth tunnel can also serve additional purpose by becoming a back-up as maintenance works need to be conducted in other tunnels
“‘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,” Marcos furthered.
The improved water transmission would also help communities prepare for droughts and other effects of climate change, and strengthen the country’s water system, according to the President.
President Marcos also acknowledged concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water, as well as the engineers, workers, and all those who poured their skill and effort to the project.
“This project reminds us that we can accomplish what – when the government and the private sector, and the LGUs are anchored on a shared vision,” said PBBM.