Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Inauguration of the 60-Million-Liters-Per-Day (MLD) Aglipay Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)

Thank you very much to the Chairperson of the MWSS, Elpidio Vega, for your kind introduction.

[Please take your seats.]

President and CEO of Manila Water Company Inc. Roberto Locsin; Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator Leonor “Bobby” Cleofas; Mandaluyong Lone District Representative Queenie Gonzales; and Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos; officers and personnel… Nakabantay pa rin ngayon ‘yung former Mayor dito sa ano niyo. [laughter] Sinabi ko na sa kanya, ‘wag ka ng makialam, kayang-kaya na ni Menchie ‘yang trabahong ‘yan.

Officers and personnel of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and Manila Water Company Inc.; my fellow workers in government; partners from the private sector and other stakeholders; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Having access – I mean this is a – it is a – it is axiomatic that access to clean water is a fundamental right that we must uphold and deliver to every Filipino.

So, today, we take a step towards fulfilling that responsibility as we inaugurate the Aglipay Sewage Treatment Plant, a facility designed to improve the water quality of Metro Manila waterways.

This plant serves a 115 – sorry, 2,115-hectare catchment area across Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Quezon City, benefitting over 650,000 residents.

Its impact will be felt every single day—in our homes, in our rivers, and the well-being of our communities.

This STP is managed by our partners at Manila Water and was built with an investment of 3.93 billion pesos.

It has the capacity to treat 60 million liters of wastewater every day, expandable to 120 million liters per day, as our cities continue to grow.

This means that more liters of safe water is available for public consumption and more rivers and seas are preserved for future generations.

At this scale, wastewater management and sanitation become essential foundations of public health, of environmental protection, and of sustainable development.

By reducing pollution flowing into rivers within its service area, this facility will improve local water quality. It also supports the long-term rehabilitation of Manila Bay by limiting the pollution load that eventually reaches our seas.

These are not abstract aspirations, but concrete and measurable actions towards protecting our [environment] and restoring our natural resources.

Beyond the machinery, what truly matters is – beyond the machinery, fascinating as it is, what really matters is the result. And that is cleaner water returned to the environment and reduced exposure of our people to the hazards of untreated sewage.

This is how a carefully planned and thoroughly executed infrastructure directly improves the lives of our people.

The work doesn’t stop here.

More water and wastewater facilities are in the pipeline. Five wastewater treatment plants across service areas are presently under construction.

These initiatives reflect this Administration’s commitment to strengthen our water and sanitation infrastructure across Metro Manila and beyond.

Guided by the Revised Concession Agreement under Republic Act Nos. 11600 and 11601, our goal is this: by 2047, 76 percent of households in Metro Manila, in Cavite, and Rizal will be connected to sewerage systems, while the remaining 24 percent will be covered by proper sanitation services. This means that no community is left without safe and responsible wastewater management.

As we advance this future-focused roadmap, we recognize the role of Manila Water and Megawide Consortium as our partners in delivering this critical infrastructure.

Your expertise and capacity are essential to ensuring that these facilities meet environmental standards and deliver reliable service to the public.

This forms a part of our larger vision: a Philippines where economic progress goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship, strong public health systems, and people-centered service delivery.

However, true progress also demands collective discipline and shared accountability.

Clean facilities must be matched by clean habits.  Proper wastewater systems must be complemented by responsible waste disposal.

So, I call on everyone—the government, private sector, and the citizens alike: Let us all do our part. Protect our waterways. Keep our surroundings clean and healthy.

Ang kalinisan ng ating kapaligiran ay salamin ng ating disiplina bilang isang bayan.

As we move forward, let us remember: water connects us all.

Just as clean water flows through healthy rivers, let responsible governance and community discipline flow through our communities—to bring good health, dignity, and hope to every  single Filipino.

Maraming salamat.

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas.

[applause]

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