Manila Water has strengthened its commitment to providing reliable water service across the East Zone after officially taking over operations of the Upper Wawa Dam in October. The move follows the company’s full acquisition of WawaJVCo from Prime Infra, bringing all operations of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project under Manila Water’s management.
The integration aims to improve operational efficiency and ensure long-term water security for millions of customers. The Wawa Project—hailed as the Philippines’ largest water source development in more than 50 years—is expected to deliver up to 710 million liters of water per day, benefiting about 3.5 million people in Metro Manila and Rizal.
Joe Costales, the newly appointed general manager of WawaJVCo, said the project provides a much-needed backup to Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s main water source for decades.
Beyond improving water supply, the Upper Wawa Dam also supports climate resilience. The facility helps reduce flooding in Rizal and Marikina by storing excess rainwater. During Super Typhoon Carina in 2024, it captured around 90 million cubic meters of water, significantly lowering flood levels downstream. Government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Rizal Governor Nina Ynares, credited the dam for preventing major flood damage.
Similarly, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo cited the dam’s role in reducing floods during Typhoon Crising, capturing more than half of the potential floodwater that would have flowed into Marikina City.
Manila Water said the Upper Wawa Dam’s commercial operations are set to begin in December 2025, reinforcing the company’s drive to ensure sustainable, climate-resilient water supply for Metro Manila’s East Zone.
