Water Supply. The Filinvest Group officials discuss sustainable solutions to the city’s water shortage with Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and proposed desalination as a means. Photo shows them pay the mayor a courtesy visit, from left: Filinvest Hitachi Omni Waterworks President & CEO Johnny Roxas, Hitachi COO Tang Chay Wee, Mayor Rama, Filinvest Land, Inc. President & CEO Tristan Las Marias, and Cebu City Administrator Atty. Collin Rosell.

The Filinvest Group has proposed to the Cebu City Government to increase the city’s water supply through desalination, utilizing the abundant seawater off the city. 

Company officials paid Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama a courtesy visit recently to discuss sustainable solutions to the city’s water shortage. 

Johnny Roxas, president and CEO of Filinvest Hitachi Omni Waterworks (FLOW), assured Rama that FLOW has the experience and expertise in desalination technology. He cited its water desalination and treatment plants in Lapulapu City have been in operation for over five years. 

In 2021, FLOW delivered 527,000 liters of free potable water to 12,000 Cebuano families in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette through Pusong (heart of) Filinvest. 

FLOW is a joint venture between Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) and Singapore-based Hitachi Aqua-Tech Engineering that aims to provide desalination, recycled water, and sewage treatment facilities across the Philippines. 

"We are committed to support the development and progress of Cebu City by addressing its water supply challenges,” said Roxas in a company statement. 

Backed by Hitachi Aqua-Tech's expertise, Filinvest is positioned “to provide long-term solutions to the water requirements of Cebu, possibly closing the gap on supply deficiency,” Roxas added. 

Affordable 

The mayor told the Filinvest officials that he supports their intent, as part of the city’s vision to achieve a ‘Singapore-like Cebu City.’ 

“This partnership will bring affordable and sustainable solutions to our current water shortage, and I believe it will contribute to the development and progress of our city,” he told them. 

“With Filinvest’s expertise, we can address our water supply challenges, and most importantly, provide affordable water for all Cebuanos,” he added. 

 Tristan Las Marias, president and CEO of Filinvest Land, Inc., joined FLOW executives when they visited Rama. 

“The Filinvest Group remains dedicated to enabling the dreams of the Cebuanos and further strengthening our presence in the city,” he said. 

“With the operation of these new water desalination and treatment plants, we aim to provide clean and sustainable water to the people of Cebu,” Las Marias added. 

300,000 households 

FDC Water Utilities, Inc., a wholly owned unit of FDC power and utilities arm FDC Utilities, Inc., will operate the water desalination and treatment plants that can supply water to over 300,000 Cebuano households. 

Aside from FLI and FDC Utilities, the Filinvest Group’s robust presence in Cebu (the home province of the Gotianun family, the Filinvest Group’s founders) extends to office developments, hospitality, and banking and finance. The PEZA-accredited Filinvest Cyberzone Cebu is FLI’s first business process outsourcing hub outside Metro Manila. 

The Filinvest Group is also behind hospitality projects such as Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan and Quest Hotel and Conference Center, which offer world-class accommodations to tourists and business travelers. 

The company’s banking subsidiary, EastWest Bank, also maintains an extensive branch and ATM network in the city.