MANILA - A regulator has given its final approval to the proposal to develop the Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal as a new water source for the Metro Manila, the project's proponent said on Monday.

WawaJVCO, the joint venture between ports magnate Enrique Razon’s Prime Infra and businessman Oscar Violago’s San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders Group, said the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System approved the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project during the Nov. 14 meeting of the MWSS Board.

The project, which is a private arrangement between Manila Water and WawaJVCo, is expected to generate at least 80 million liters per day (mld) for Manila Water by 2021, and over 500 mld by 2025.

Prime Infra said it hoped to break ground on the project next year.

MWSS Chairman Reynaldo Velasco said he hoped other government agencies would soon issue permits for the project.

Razon first announced the project in April as water service interruptions affected large parts of Metro Manila.

The project was initially approved by the MWSS in May, but still had to hurdle a legal review by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC). The MWSS said the OGCC approved the project last Nov. 7.

Wawa Dam used to supply the bulk of Metro Manila's water needs before Angat Dam went into service.