As the year draws to a close, the Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) reflects on a transformative twelve months defined by policy shifts, environmental stewardship, and digital modernization. The journey through 2025 has laid a robust foundation for the future, setting the stage for a landmark year in 2026.
We delve into the significant milestones achieved this year. From securing our water sources to expanding our reach into rural communities, our mission remains clear: to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable water to residents of Puerto Princesa City.
Retrospect: Key Milestones of 2025
The year 2025 was a period of decisive action. Faced with the dual challenges of a growing population and climate unpredictability, the PPCWD leadership took bold steps to ensure long-term operational viability.
1. Securing the Future: Water Rate Adjustment and Public Hearing
One of the most significant undertakings of the year was the proposal and subsequent approval of the water rate adjustment. This decision was not made lightly but was born out of necessity to fund critical infrastructure projects that will serve the city for decades to come.
In a transparent move to engage stakeholders, the PPCWD presented the proposed adjustments to the general public at the Palawan State University. General Manager Walter J. Laurel, alongside the Board of Directors, led these discussions, clarifying that the rate increase is directly tied to enhancing service quality.
The primary driver for this adjustment is the goal to service all 66 barangays in Puerto Princesa by 2030, a significant leap from the current 53 barangays serviced. With the city’s population booming and tourism establishments multiplying, the demand on our three main water sources, namely the Irawan River, Lapu-Lapu River, and Montible River, is intensifying.
To address this, the PPCWD is planning the Sta. Lucia Water Impounding Project, projected for construction between 2027 and 2030. This massive infrastructure is designed to:
- Combat Climate Change: Serve as a reservoir for excess rainwater during the wet season to be used during droughts.
- Boost Tourism: Function as a tourist attraction for water sports and related activities.
- Ensure Supply: Guarantee water security for the next 15 to 20 years.
Consequently, the new minimum charge for the first 10 cubic meters will be adjusted from ₱280 to ₱320 with corresponding commodity charges, effective in 2026. This adjustment ensures we have the financial health to execute these vital projects while maintaining our status as one of the country’s top-performing water districts.
2. Protecting Montible: A Strategic Academic Partnership
Sustainability is at the heart of our operations. Recognizing that water security starts at the source, PPCWD spearheaded a vital partnership this year to protect the Montible Watershed, a critical lifeline for the city during dry seasons.
On December 9, 2025, PPCWD signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with two premier educational institutions: Western Philippines University (WPU) and Palawan State University (PalSU). The signing ceremony was attended by key academic figures, including Dr. Abraham P. Cea of WPU and Atty. Rhodel S. Magrata of PalSU, signaling a strong commitment from the academe.
Why is this MOA important? The agreement focuses on conducting a comprehensive Socio-Economic Assessment of the communities living within and around the Montible Watershed. As explained by PPCWD Environmental Specialist Annilie Lagan-EnP, protecting the watershed isn’t just about guarding trees; it’s about collaborating with the people who live there.
Through this study, PPCWD aims to:
- Understand the living conditions of watershed communities.
- Provide appropriate interventions to help residents live sustainably.
- Eliminate environment-destructive practices by offering viable livelihood alternatives.
This initiative is a key component of our Gender and Development (GAD) Agenda and the Integrated Watershed Management Plan for Montible.
3. Going Green: The Shift to Paperless Billing
In 2025, PPCWD rolled out the Paperless Billing initiative. This program moves away from traditional printed statements, offering consumers the convenience of receiving their bills via email or SMS.
Although the transition resulted in missed water bills and waived penalty fees, this shift does more than just modernize our system; it reduces our carbon footprint by saving paper and ink, aligning with our broader environmental goals. It also improves operational efficiency, ensuring that billing information reaches consumers instantly, without the delays associated with physical delivery.
Outlook: Strategic Goals for 2026
As we leverage the successes of the PPCWD 2025 highlights and 2026 goals, we look forward to a milestone year. 2026 is not just another operational year; it marks a half-century of service to the people of Puerto Princesa.
1. Celebrating Our Golden Era: The 50th Anniversary
2026 will be a year of celebration as PPCWD marks its 50th Anniversary. Five decades of service is a testament to the resilience and dedication of our workforce and the trust of our community.
This Gold Anniversary will be commemorated with a series of events honoring our past while looking firmly toward the future. We will recognize the employees who have built this institution and the partners who have stood by us. It is also a time to reinforce our commitment to excellence, as evidenced by our recent accolades, including the PRIME HRM Bronze Award (2025), ARTA RCS 2.0 Silver Award (2024), and our recognition as a Top 6 Wealthiest Water District in the country (2023).
2. Bridging the Gap: Water Service Expansions to Rural Barangays
While we celebrate our history, we remain aware that our work is not finished. A primary objective for 2026 is the continuous expansion of water services to unserved rural barangays.
Our target is to close the gap between the 53 currently serviced barangays and the total 66 barangays in the city. Our Engineering Department will finalize studies and designs to lay main distribution lines and build water sources in these remote areas. Bringing potable water to these communities is more than an infrastructure project; it is a public health imperative and an opportunity for rural economic development.
3. Completion of the 400mm Transmission Line
Finally, a major highlight for 2026 will be the completion of the massive 400mm Transmission Line project. Since its groundbreaking in August 2024, this project has been a top priority for our engineering department and is now nearing the finish line.
This pipeline project is a critical component in the fast growing communities in Brgy. Irawan, Brgy. Sta. Loudres, Brgy. Tagburos, Brgy. San Jose, Brgy. San Manuel, and Brgy. San Pedro. Traversing along the North National Highway of Palawan, this 400mm shall provide a stable pressure distribution in these areas, allowing us to transport bulk water more efficiently across long distances. Once fully commissioned in 2026, residents along this route and in downstream areas can expect a noticeable improvement in service reliability and water pressure.
This also serves as a strategic backup to our main transmission line in the South National Highway when maintenance and major leak repairs are needed and water shut offs are inevitable. We can maintain a supply stability through the North National Highway, minimizing water interruptions to our consumers.
Conclusion
The transition from the PPCWD 2025 highlights to our 2026 goals represents a continuum of progress. From the critical policy adjustments and environmental partnerships of 2025 to the celebratory and expansionist vision of 2026, every step is taken with you, our consumer, in mind.
We thank you for your continued support as we build a water-secure future for Puerto Princesa.
