Our Institutional Identity & Corporate Structure
MWSS-CO
Established: June 19, 1971
Legal Basis: RA 6234
THE HISTORY OF THE METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM (MWSS) The evolution of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) is a fascinating journey that mirrors the development of water services in the Philippines. From its early beginnings in the late 19th century to its current form, the MWSS has undergone significant transformations aimed at improving water supply and sewerage services in the country. THE CARRIEDO WATERWORKS (1878-1918) The history of MWSS begins on 18 February 1878, with the establishment of the first water system in old Manila, made possible by the generous donation of Spanish philanthropist Francisco Carriedo y Peredo. He provided a seed money of Php10,000 for the construction of the Carriedo Water Works, marking the first step towards organized water services in the region. THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT (1919-1954) On 6 March 1919, the Philippine Legislature passed Virtue Act No. 2832, leading to the creation of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). This was a pivotal moment, with Abraham Gideon appointed as the first General Manager. The MWD symbolized the formal organization and management of water services in the burgeoning metropolitan area. NATIONAL WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE AUTHORITY (NAWASA) (1955-1970) On 18 June 1955, Republic Act No. 1383 was enacted, establishing the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA). This move aimed to consolidate and centralize all waterworks, sewerage, and drainage systems under one umbrella for better control, direction, and supervision, marking a significant step towards improving water services across the Philippines. METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM (1971-1997) The transformation continued with the enactment of Republic Act 6234 in 1971, which dissolved NAWASA and established the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). This new entity was tasked with ensuring “an uninterrupted and adequate supply and distribution of potable water for domestic and other purposes at just and equitable rates,” alongside the operation and maintenance of sewerage systems. This era underscored the importance of water services as vital to public health and safety, necessitating state supervision and control. DECLARATION OF POLICY The establishment, operation, and maintenance of waterworks systems, because they deliver essential services that are vital to public health and safety, must be supervised and controlled by the State. CHALLENGES LEADING TO PRIVATIZATION Despite its noble mandate, MWSS faced numerous challenges, including poor coverage, with only 69% of its service area receiving water supply. The service was marred by inefficiencies, such as intermittent water availability and low pressure, along with having the highest Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in Asia. Additionally, sewerage coverage was abysmally low, and procurement procedures were plagued by rigidity and delays. THE PRIVATIZATION MOVE In response to these challenges, the Philippine Legislature passed Republic Act 8041, also known as “The Water Crisis Act,” in 1997, initiating the privatization of MWSS. The primary objectives were to transfer the financial burden to the private sector, improve service standards, enhance operational efficiency, and minimize tariff impact. A 25-year Concession Agreement was entered into with two private consortia, transferring the operational responsibilities to Manila Water Company, Inc. (for the East Zone) and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (for the West Zone). CURRENT CONDITION OF MWSS Post-privatization, MWSS continued to perform several legally mandated functions, including facilitating the concessionaires’ agency powers, managing loans, and handling the Umiray-Angat Transbasin Project, among others. The MWSS Corporate Office (CO) and the MWSS Regulatory Office (RO) play crucial roles in this new structure, with the RO primarily tasked with implementing the provisions of the Concession Agreement.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1878 | Establishment of the Carriedo Waterworks, the first water system in old Manila |
| 1919 | Creation of the Metropolitan Water District by Virtue Act No. 2832 by the Philippine Legislature, formalizing the organization and management of water services in the metropolitan area. |
| 1929 | The La Mesa Dam was constructed as a strategic reservoir located at Novaliches, Quezon City |
| 1955 | Establishment of the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority enacted by Republic Act No, 1383, aimed at consolidating and centralizing all waterworks, sewerage, and drainage systems for better control, direction, and supervision. |
| 1959 | The La Mesa Dam's storage capacity was increased to 50.5 million cubic meter due to improvement works |
| 1967 | Located in Norzagaray, Bulacan, the Angat Dam and Reservoir was built, supplying 90% of the system's raw water. It a multi-purpose facility that provides water, power, and irrigation for the service of MWSS equivalent to 4,500 million liters per day. |
| 1971 | Establishment of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System enacted by Republic Act 6234, dissolving NAWASA, tasked with ensuring "an uninterrupted and adequate supply and distribution of potable water for domestic and other purposes at just and equitable rates,” alongside the operation and maintenance of sewerage systems. |
| 1984 | Completed in 1984, the Ipo Dam is a gravity concrete dam located at the downstream of Angat Dam. It serves as a transition and settling basin consisting of pipes and open channel to the seven aqueducts. |
| 1987 | Executive Order No. 124 (s. 1987) attached the MWSS to the Department of Public Works and Highways |
| 1991 | The La Mesa Dam's overflow level was increased to 80.15 meters, capable of supplying 1500 MLD. The dam serves as a receiving basin from Bigte basins, which conveys water to MWSS Concessionaires' treatment plants. |
| 1997 | In response to water crisis, the Philippine Legislature passed Republic Act 8041, initiating the privatization of MWSS. The primary objectives were (1) to transfer the financial burden to the private sector, (2) improve service standards, (3) enhance operational efficiency, and (4) minimize tariff impact. A 25-year Concession Agreement was entered into with two private consortia, transferring the operational responsibilities to Manila Water Company, Inc. (for the East Zone) and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (for the West Zone). Establishment of the MWSS Regulatory Office |
| 2000 | Completion and operationalization of the Umiray-Angat Transbasin Project. The Umiray River, situated in General Nakar, Quezon Province, provides more than 9 cubic meter per second or 780 Million Liters of raw water per day for the MWSS Service Area, supplementing the inflow to the Angat reservoir through a diversion 13 km tunnel from Umiray, General Nakar to the outlet facilities in Macua, Dona Remedios, Trinidad, Bulacan. |
| 2008 | Concession Agreement Term extension for 15 years (up to 2037) |
| 2013 | Governance Commission for GOCCs approved the MWSS Reorganization |
| 2014 | In 2014 the MWSS started the Free, Prior, Informed Consent process in Rizal and Quezon in compliance with Section 59 of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) to uphold ICC/IP rights over ancestral domains for the implementation of the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project. The New Centennial Water Source - Kaliwa Dam Project involves the design and construction of a 73-meter-high dam (structural height) with a 600 Million Liters per day (MLD) capacity and a 2,400 MLD capacity in its 21.90 km raw water conveyance tunnel. This climate-resilient project aims to reduce reliance on Angat Dam and provide additional water supply to around 17.6 million people (3.49 million households) in Metro Manila and parts of Cavite, Rizal, and the province of Bulacan. |
| 2016 | The MWSS implemented the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project, the first water project under the country's Public-Private Partnership Program, which gave rise to the Agency's third Concessionaire: Luzon Clean Water Development Corporation (LCWDC), who supplies treated bulk water to the Water Service Providers of the Province of Bulacan (North Zone). |
| 2020 | The commissioning of the AWTIP Tunnel No. 4 began in July 2020, after the successful completion of all the components of the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP) by MWSS. Its completion is a critical component for the MWSS’ water security program as it mitigates the risk of a partial or total disruption of water supply for Metro Manila. The rehabilitation of the transmission system has provided redundancy and enabled the raw water conveyance system’s full design capacity to be restored by allowing the upstream tunnels and downstream aqueducts to be sequentially closed, inspected, and rehabilitated or decommissioned. This is because the main components are as old as 75 years, and most likely not in compliance with current structural and seismic requirements. As the project started in June 2016 and was completed in July 2020, the project had to continue despite the outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic and resolve travel restrictions that came with the logistical aspect of completing the project. A 1-month testing period ensured the performance of each system and the overall system met the design standards and operating requirements that also led to the completion of the project three (3) months ahead of the scheduled time. |
| 2021 | Executive Order No. 149 (s. 2021) transferred the administrative supervision of the MWSS and the MWSS Regulatory Office directly from the DPWH to the Office of the President. |
| 2021 | Signing of the Revised Concession Agreement between Maynilad, Manila Water and Signing of the Franchise Law RA 11600 (Maynilad Franchise) RA 11601 (Manila Water Franchise) |
| 2023 | Under Executive Order No. 22 (s. 2023), the MWSS became an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources acting under the Water Resources Management Office |
| 2024 | President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. led the impounding process ceremony of the Upper Wawa Dam, 10 July 2024 in San Rafael, Montalban, Rodriguez, Rizal. A milestone for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Manila Water Company, Inc., Wawa JVCo, Inc., and Prime Infra under public-private partnership (PPP) for water infrastructure development. The Upper Wawa Dam is the Phase II of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, a water source development project designed to deliver at least 518 MLD to the MWSS Service Area, serving 700,000 households. This climate resilient 85-meter-high roller-compacted concrete dam which was completed ahead of schedule, will ensure sustainable water supply and increase long term water supply capacity in the East Zone. Completion will start impounding water from the Upper Marikina River, creating a 400-hectare reservoir with a capacity of 120 billion liters. The Upper Wawa Dam is the largest water supply dam built in the Philippines in over 50 years after Angat Dam. The Upper Wawa Dam is a key component of the MWSS Water Security Pillars’ medium-term water source programs and is aligned with the strategic infrastructure development agenda of the current administration’s Build Better More program. In her message, MWSS Administrator Leonor C. Cleofas, CESO IV stressed on the importance of PPP, leveraging the strengths of government and private sector in exploring innovative solutions to the country’s increasing water demands. |
| 2025 | President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. led the unveiling of the project marker and inauguration of the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP) Tunnel No. 5 on 28 November 2025, at Bigte Basin, Brgy. Bigte, Norzagaray, Bulacan. The AWTIP Tunnel No. 5 is a vital infrastructure project designed to safeguard Metro Manila, parts of Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan's water security needs, being that the Angat Dam supplies 90% of raw water to the service area. This 4.30-meter diameter x 6.40-kilometer-long raw water conveyance tunnel from Ipo Dam to Bigte Basin is set to increase system capacity by conveying 1,642 million liters per day (MLD), ensure uninterrupted supply, and enhance disaster resilience. The AWTIP Tunnel No. 5 is a key component of the MWSS Water Security Pillars’ re-engineering works for the Umiray-Angat-Ipo-La Mesa raw water conveyance system, which consists of tunnels and aqueducts that connect the Angat Dam to Metro Manila and nearby provinces, built in the 1930s and 1960s. Due to its age, re-engineering works were necessary to maintain the system’s integrity in the face of sudden onset disasters. |
Our Financial Statements (as audited by the COA)
Our Leadership
Our Programs, KPI Stats & Performance Reports
Design and Construction of Tayabasan Multi-Basin system and New Wawa Dam
Design and construction of a 60-meters high dam and 27.70 kilometers raw water conveyance tunnel
Design and Construction of a 3.60 meters diameter x 15 kilometers long aqueduct with a design capacity of 1,700 million liters per day
Design and Construction of new Tunnel No. 4 connecting the IPO dam to Bigte Basin, Norzagaray, Bulacan
Design and construction of a new Tunnel No. 5 including intake structure at Ipo reservoir; Slope stabilization at intake structure; tunnel works; Transition basins at Bigte; Interconnection to Tunnel No. 4 and AQ 7; Conveyance channel at Bigte; stub out to the future AQ7; slope stabilization at outlet structure. Improved reliability and operational flexibility in the Umiray-Angat- Ipo raw water conveyance system.
BBWSP is a design and build project that is now serving the 24 municipalities in Bulacan Province with potable and affordable water supply. MWSS’ concessionaire, Luzon Clean Water Development Corporation (LCWDC) is responsible for the financing, construction, operation and maintenance.
Implementation of the Public Service Continuity Plan, which is the capability of public sector organizations to continue delivery of services at acceptable predefined levels following a disruptive incident.
The ISSP of the MWSS is implemented through the Human Resource Information System (HRIS), which aims to modernize human resource processes and data management to provide employees with more efficient and accessible HR services.
Our Governance and Compliance Documents
The MWSS-CO's FOI Manual reflects the System's commitment to make full public disclosure of all its transactions and observe the right of public access to information which is of general public interest.
The MWSS-CO One-Page FOI Manual operationalizes the public's constitutional right to information by ensuring all request procedures are accessible, transparent, and easily understood.
This certification reflects the MWSS-CO's steadfast compliance with all pertinent FOI requirements and requests that were received in CY 2025.
The MWSS-CO's Statement of Full Compliance with the Code of Corporate Governance is in compliance with the GCG's corporate governance requirements under GCG M.C. No. 2012-07.
The MWSS-CO's Citizen's Charter outlines the System's commitment to being citizen-centred and service-oriented.
As approved by the MWSS Board of Trustees on 25 June 2026
Our Procurement Monitoring & Documents
34 Projects · Total Budget ₱42.1M
Important information regarding the use of this transparency portal
The Online Transparency Portal of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) is established and maintained pursuant to applicable laws, rules, regulations, and government issuances, including the GCG-DICT Joint Memorandum Circular No. 002, Series of 2026, mandating Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) to establish and maintain an Online Transparency Portal.
The information published on this Portal, including the photographs, names, positions, committee memberships, compensation, attendance records, and other disclosures relating to the Members of the Board of Trustees and Officers of the MWSS, is provided in compliance with the disclosure requirements prescribed under the Joint Memorandum Circular and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.
MWSS endeavors to ensure that the information published on this Portal is accurate, complete, and updated in acordance with the prescribed reporting periods and applicable legal requirements. However, the information is subject to periodic review, validation, correction, and updating. In the event of any inconsistency between the information published on this Portal and official records of MWSS, the latter shall prevail.
The information contained in this Portal is intended solely to facilitate public access to information and to promote transparency and accountability in government. Users are expected to access and use the information responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The publication of information through this Portal shall not be construed as authorizing any unlawful, fraudulent, misleading, or malicious use of the information, nor shall it diminish the protection afforded to personal information under Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and other applicable laws.
Nothing in this Disclaimer shall be construed to modify, limit, or reduce the disclosure obligations of MWSS under the GCG-DICT Joint Memorandum Circular No. 002, Series of 2026, or under any other applicable law, rule, or government issuance.