By Ashley Karen
Manila Water held the formal commissioning of the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 (NBAQ4) in Quezon City. The new aqueduct will convey up to 1,000 million liters of water per day (MLD) and make preparations for the inspection, assessment, and subsequent rehabilitation of the other three existing aqueducts. Current aqueducts have been working since 1929, 1956, and 1968, respectively, to assist in assuring constant water supply for over 7 million customers in the East Zone.
The NBAQ4 is one of Manila Water’s flagship projects and part of the water concessionaire’s improvement and expansion endeavors in the East Zone, in coordination with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
The Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan was the guest of honor during the event. In addition, in attendance were MWSS Board of Trustees Chairman Justice Elpidio Vega, MWSS Administrator Engr. Leonor “Bobby” Cleofas, MWSS Chief Regulator Atty. Patrick Ty, Mr. Emil Caling, representing Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Deputy Chairman Usec. Frisco San Juan, Quezon City 5th District Councilor Joseph Visaya, representing Mayor Joy Belmonte and representatives from other national and local government offices.
The guest of honor Secretary of Public Works and Highways Manuel Bonoan, expressed during his keynote speech: “I know I have to participate in this occasion to emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving clean, reliable supply of water consistent with priorities under the ‘Build, Better, More’ infrastructure development thrust of the Administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos… Today is really a reason to celebrate as the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 or the NBAQ4 will be the lifeline of over 7 million customers in [Metro Manila] East Zone”.
Councilor Joseph Visaya of the 5th District of Quezon City delivered Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte’s message. Visaya emphasized the conscious effort of Manila Water not to disrupt the everyday activities in the city despite the sheer magnitude of the project.
Visaya stated: “The construction of the NBAQ4 did not cause any inconvenience to our residents, our commuters, and businesses. This innovation is a testament to their commitment to provide reliable and efficient services to our constituencies.”
In addition, Manila Water President and CEO, Jocot De Dios, addressed the attendees and guests at the inauguration and said: “I will focus on three Ps: Partnership, Promise, and a Plea. Partnership—this is a testament to the ecosystem that we have, not only with the government, but our private partners… Our Pledge to you is that we will continue to work silently but very effectively to bring a very unappreciated resource to our customers. The last P is Plea—let us honor the real heroes, the men and the women who built this [NBAQ4]. Our plea is not only to honor them but to respect the work that they put in.”
The Php 5.6B NBAQ4 project contains building a new intake facility and access bridge at the La Mesa reservoir, a 7.3-kilometre underground aqueduct with a 3.1-meter diameter passing beneath Commonwealth Avenue, and an outlet portal and downstream distribution work at the Balara Treatment Plant.
The project utilized a tunnel-boring machine which was named “Dalisay”. It was the first time in the Philippines that a tunnel boring machine was employed in an urban setting, enabling the giant pipelaying project to proceed under Commonwealth Avenue without troubling traffic since its launch in 2020. The tunnel boring machine broke through at the La Mesa Reservoir in August 2021. The construction is presently experiencing the procedure of proving and testing in preparation for its complete operation.
The new giant aqueduct helps the present administration’s thrust for more significant infrastructure development under its ‘Build, Better, More” flagship program, which concentrates on the requirement for projects that will support conservation, climate change adaptation and resiliency and disaster risk reduction.
