FPIP Water Division Head Urges Water Circularity at PEZA Water Forum
With water scarcity emerging as a serious national concern, Engr. Jeremaine Esguerra, head of First Philippine Industrial Park’s (FPIP) water division, emphasized the importance of water circularity as a sustainable solution during a water forum held on August 12-13, 2025, at the PEZA Auditorium in Pasay City.
Entitled Securing Water for Industry: Solutions for Economic Zones and their Locators, the forum was jointly organized by Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), FutureWater Asia, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines. It provided a venue for policy leaders, regulators, technologists, and industry stakeholders to collaborate on forward-thinking, actionable solutions to the country’s worsening water issues.
Speaking before nearly 200 attendees, Engr. Esguerra stressed that water scarcity is not just confined to FPIP and other industrial zones.
“Water demand continues to rise as the population grows and industries expand,” she explained, “Groundwater, which used to be abundant, is now in decline in terms of quality and quantity. And this is all because of aquifer overuse, volcanic activity, and poor sanitation in surrounding areas.”
“This is a challenge that is very clear to us. That is why we planned our moves and committed ourselves to act, so we can regenerate resources and help secure water for both the present and future generations.”
In 2024, FPIP, through its unit FPIP Utilities Incorporated (FUI), rolled out its Water Sustainability Policy that reinforces its commitment to sustainable, responsible water management. The policy lays out clear priorities, which include the reduction of water consumption, efficient usage of resources, compliance with water quality standards, and management of wastewater.
FUI also developed a comprehensive Water Safety Plan, designed to secure the water quality from source to distribution. The plan was among the first to be officially recognized by PEZA, earning Certificates of Water Safety Plan in February this year.
From these, FUI has implemented impactful initiatives, such as phytoremediation using water hyacinths, vermicomposting and biogas for zero-waste ecosystems, and automation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) for smart water systems. By 2030, FUI aims to diversify its water supply by treating river water and reusing rainwater.
“A new river water treatment facility is underway,” shared Engr. Esguerra. “It will be used to extract and treat up to 20 million liters per day (MLD) of water from the San Juan River, which will then be pumped into the distribution system.”
“At FUI, we believe that water should be reused, recovered, and regenerated, and not just consumed and recharged. Through this river water treatment facility, we can create a regenerative loop. We can reuse and recycle water, instead of following the take-use-discharge model,” she added.
“We cannot do this alone, and so, we are partnering with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), while also doing education campaigns in local communities and academic institutions. It is not easy, but we must act before it is too late.”
FPIP is a Lopez-led industrial park located in Sto. Tomas and Tanauan, Batangas. With nearly 600-hectares of prime industrial land, it is the manufacturing hub of choice of over 150 world-class locators, such as Brother Industries (Philippines), Inc., Canon Philippines, Collins Aerospace, Dyson Philippines, and Nestle Philippines, Inc., and home to around 80,000 Filipino employees.
FUI has been managing water and wastewater services at FPIP since 1997. Today, its service portfolio includes laboratory services, maintenance services, and technical consultancy. It has also extended its operations across Metro Manila and the CALABARZON region. For inquiries or concerns, contact [email protected] or +63917-849-8383.
