Manila Water Jan-Jun earnings up by 6%

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Water Co. ended the first half of 2026 with a 6-percent improvement in its bottom line, thanks to higher tariffs and sustained demand.

The company on Friday said its net income had risen to P8.5 billion from P7.95 billion in the same period last year.

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Consolidated revenues also climbed by 11 percent to P22.2 billion from P20 billion.

For its East Zone concession of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, revenues increased by 12 percent to P17.9 billion.

Revenues from the operations of its non-East Zone Philippines business, including those in Clark, South Luzon and Boracay Island, also increased by 2 percent.

Manila Water attributed its better financial results to effective cost management, providing a 13-percent boost in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to reach P16.4 billion.

During the period, Manila Water spent P6.8 billion, financing capacity expansion and network reliability.

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“Our first half results show that even in uncertain times, our company can still deliver strong performance, provide reliable service, and create lasting value for our stakeholders,” Manila Water president and CEO Roberto Locsin said in a statement.

“While geopolitical concerns and El Niño present real challenges for our sector, we are confident in our ability to navigate these conditions by improving the way we operate, optimizing resources, and strengthening service delivery,” Locsin added.

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El Niño refers to the abnormal warming of Pacific Ocean surface temperatures, a weather phenomenon often linked to extreme climate conditions such as drought and erratic rainfall in the case of the Philippines.

This week, Manila Water said it was strengthening its backwash recovery program, which can generate up to 46 million liters per day of additional water from its treatment facilities. The recovered volume is enough to serve over 200,000 consumers daily.

The firm serves the eastern side of Metro Manila, covering parts of Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Pateros, Mandaluyong and San Juan as well as portions of Quezon City and Manila, and several towns in Rizal province. INQ