SUEZ, a global leader in environmental services, in collaboration with JEMCO, a premier construction company based in the Philippines, and Metro Pacific Water (MPW), a key water and wastewater infrastructure investor fully owned by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), has launched the construction of the largest seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination facility in the Philippines. The project, located in Metro Iloilo, is expected to be completed in 24 months and will address the region’s critical shortage of potable water by supplying sustainable and reliable drinking water to local communities.
The need for this desalination plant arises from the severe strain on Metro Iloilo’s existing fresh water sources, which are no longer capable of meeting the growing demand. Seasonal rainfall fluctuations further exacerbate the situation, disrupting the replenishment of these limited water supplies. This underscores the urgent necessity of developing alternative water sources to ensure long-term sustainability for the region.
The SWRO desalination plant, with an estimated production capacity of 66,500 cubic meters per day, will provide over 97% of this volume as drinking water, benefiting approximately 50,000 households. The remaining portion will be used to produce demineralised water to support the operation of an adjacent power plant. This innovative project was awarded to SUEZ and JEMCO by Metro Pacific Water, which will oversee the plant’s design, construction, and operation.
SUEZ brings more than 50 years of experience in seawater desalination, having designed and built over 260 desalination plants worldwide. The facility in Metro Iloilo will feature SUEZ's SeaDAF™ Filter, a cutting-edge technology that combines dissolved air flotation and dual media gravity filtration to treat seawater and remove impurities such as algae, turbidity, suspended solids, and colloidal particles, making it suitable for reverse osmosis. This compact design is ideal for installations with space constraints, ensuring the plant's efficiency and effectiveness.
This project marks the second collaboration between SUEZ and JEMCO, following their successful partnership on a water reclamation facility in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila. SUEZ's established presence in the Philippines, backed by a skilled local engineering platform, will complement JEMCO's strong construction expertise in the region.
Christopher Andrew B. Pangilinan, CEO and President of Metro Pacific Water, expressed: "MPW's commitment to providing sustainable water solutions is at the heart of this project. It underscores our dedication to supporting Iloilo's rapid growth and development. This innovative and sustainable desalination facility will provide a long-term solution to the water challenges of Iloilo."
Augusto F. Manalo, President & CEO of JEMCO, noted: "The large-scale Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant in Metro Iloilo is of vital importance to the region and one which would mark a major milestone to be the largest plant of its kind in the Philippines. We thank the Metro Pacific Water Investment Corporation for this opportunity to be able to deliver this critical infrastructure project. We are proud to be partnering once more with SUEZ, one of the world's leading providers of solutions for the sustainable management of resources. It has always been JEMCO's mission to be a major contributor to nation-building and we believe that being part of a project such as this further reinforces our drive to be true to our mission."
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas emphasized: "This exceptional initiative seeks to ensure a consistent and reliable supply of potable water for Ilonggos, enhancing their quality of life while bolstering Iloilo's infrastructure and driving economic growth."
Pierre Pauliac, Co-CEO of SUEZ and Chief Operating Officer of Water, concluded: "Given the critical water situation in the region, we are determined to secure a stable and reliable water supply for our customers by leveraging our 50 years of experience and technological know-how in seawater desalination worldwide. This collaboration is a testament to the trust our partners and clients place in us, and a new step in SUEZ's expansion in Southeast Asia."
