Tubig Pilipinas inks 25-year Bataan Freeport water deal

Insider Spotlight

• Tubig Pilipinas Group will invest P1.35 billion under a 25-year concession to modernize the Freeport Area of Bataan's water and sewerage systems
• The project aims to add 27 million liters per day of treatment capacity, replace and expand 68 kilometers of pipelines, and achieve full wastewater coverage
• The company said the investment is designed to support the Freeport's industrial expansion and future investors ahead of major infrastructure developments
  
  
  
  

Tubig Pilipinas Group Inc. (TPGI) has signed a 25-year joint venture agreement with the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) to upgrade and manage the water supply and sewerage infrastructure of the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), underscoring confidence in the economic zone's long-term growth.

The concession, signed through a consortium with FB Infrastructure Corp., carries a planned investment of P1.35 billion to improve, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, expand, and manage the Freeport's water and wastewater systems. 

The agreement comes as Central Luzon's economy posted a 4.5-percent growth in 2025, with industry accounting for 41.8 percent of regional output, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Why it matters

Reliable water infrastructure is increasingly viewed as a key requirement for attracting manufacturers and investors into economic zones. The project also aligns with major infrastructure developments in the region, including the planned 32.15-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, which is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Bataan and Cavite.

"The Freeport Area of Bataan has an established industrial base and a clear potential for continued growth. Our role is to ensure that its water infrastructure can support the requirements of businesses, communities, and future locators over the next 25 years," Tubig Pilipinas Group Inc. president Ryan Wesley T. Yapkianwee said in a press statement.

The big picture

Under the modernization program, the consortium will expand, rehabilitate, and replace about 68 kilometers of pipelines while adding 27 million liters per day of treatment capacity. It also targets 100 percent wastewater and sanitation coverage across the Freeport Area of Bataan.

The project further aims to reduce nonrevenue water to 20 percent by 2039 from 51 percent through smart meters, leak-detection technology, SCADA systems, and cloud-based geographic information systems for real-time monitoring.

What's next

"Water infrastructure should be ready before growth accelerates. Our goal through this partnership is to enhance the capacity of the Freeport Area of Bataan for expansion, while providing dependable and sustainable services to the businesses, industries, and communities reliant upon it," Yapkianwee said.

The agreement was signed on July 23 in Mariveles, Bataan, with the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines serving as witness. Following the Notice to Proceed, the consortium will complete a nine-month transition period before formally assuming operations in May 2027.

Founded in 2014, Tubig Pilipinas currently operates 12 water infrastructure projects nationwide, with five more under construction and 13 in its development pipeline. The Bataan concession expands the company's presence into one of the country's award-winning economic zones as it pursues further growth. —Vanessa Hidalgo| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma