ILOILO CITY, Philippines, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SUEZ, a global leader in environmental services, and JEMCO, a premier construction company in the Philippines, together with Metro Pacific Water, a key water and wastewater infrastructure investor fully-owned by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), commenced the construction of a seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination facility in Metro Iloilo— the largest of its kind in the Philippines. Slated to be completed in 24 months, this project will help address the critical shortage of drinking water in the region, supplying sustainable and reliable potable water to local communities.
The existing fresh water sources in Metro Iloilo have become severely strained and are no longer capable of meeting the increasing demand of the region. This situation has been exacerbated by seasonal fluctuations in rainfall, disrupting the replenishment of these finite water supplies, revealing the urgent need to identify and develop alternative sources of water to ensure the long-term sustainability of the region.
To tackle the region's shortage of potable water, Metro Pacific Water awarded to SUEZ and JEMCO a project to design, build and operate a seawater reverse osmosis desalination facility. The SWRO desalination plant will have an estimated production capacity of 66,500 cubic meters per day, with over 97% of which to be supplied to the residents as drinking water, benefiting approximately 50,000 households. The remaining part will be used for the production of demineralised water to support the operation of the adjacent power plant.
As a leader of circular solutions for water and waste services for more than 160 years, SUEZ has 50 years of experience in seawater desalination, with over 260 desalination plants designed and built worldwide. This plant will incorporate SUEZ's flagship technologies, such as the SeaDAFâ„¢ Filter which combines the dissolved air flotation technology and dual media gravity filter to treat seawater and remove algae, turbidity, suspended solids, and colloidal particles to reach a quality suitable to feed to the reverse osmosis membranes. Its compact design makes it suitable for installations where space is a premium.
A testimony to the strong partnership between SUEZ and JEMCO, this is the second project that the two entities have worked on together, with the first being a key water reclamation facility in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila. SUEZ has a strong presence in the Philippines with a well-established local engineering platform and a professional team of local talents. The collaboration will leverage SUEZ's expertise and technologies in seawater desalination, and benefit from the strong local experience and construction capabilities of JEMCO.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said: "This exceptional initiative seeks to ensure a consistent and reliable supply of potable water for Ilonggos, enhancing their quality of life while bolstering Iloilo's infrastructure and driving economic growth."
Christopher Andrew B. Pangilinan, CEO and President of Metro Pacific Water said: "MPW's commitment to providing sustainable water solutions is at the heart of this project. It underscores our dedication to supporting Iloilo's rapid growth and development. This innovative and sustainable desalination facility will provide a long-term solution to the water challenges of Iloilo."
Augusto F. Manalo, President & CEO of JEMCO noted: "The large-scale Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant in Metro Iloilo is of vital importance to the region and one which would mark a major milestone to be the largest plant of its kind in the Philippines. We thank the Metro Pacific Water Investment Corporation for this opportunity to be able to deliver this critical infrastructure project. We are proud to be partnering once more with SUEZ, one of the world's leading provider of solutions for sustainable management of resources. It has always been JEMCO's mission to be a major contributor to nation building and we believe that being part of a project such as this further reinforces our drive to be true to our mission."
Pierre Pauliac, Co-CEO of SUEZ and Chief Operating Officer Water said: "Given the critical water situation in the region, we are determined to secure a stable and reliable water supply for our customers by leveraging our 50 years of experience and technological know-how in seawater desalination worldwide. This collaboration is a testament to the trust our partners and clients place in us, and a new step in SUEZ's expansion in Southeast Asia."
About SUEZ:
Faced with growing environmental challenges, SUEZ has been delivering essential services that protect and improve our quality of life for more than 160 years. SUEZ provides its customers with innovative and resilient solutions for water and waste services. With 40,000 employees across 40 countries, the Group works with customers to create value over the full lifecycle of their assets and services, and to drive their low carbon transition. In 2023, SUEZ provided drinking water for 57 million people worldwide and sanitation services for more than 36 million people. The Group generated 7.7 TWh of energy from waste and wastewater. In 2023, SUEZ generated revenues of 8.9 billion euros. For more information: www.suez.com / X @suez / LinkedIn @SUEZ.
In Asia, SUEZ's journey began some 70 years ago, first in Southeast Asia before expanding to China 50 years ago. With 6,500+ employees across Asia, SUEZ has built over 600 water and wastewater treatment plants. Together with our local partners, we also provide water and waste recycling and recovery services to 25+ million people and 22 industrial parks across the region. SUEZ is recognized as one of the most influential companies in China and a service benchmark for leading Asia's environmental industry. Today, SUEZ works with municipal and industrial customers in more than 30 major cities and regions across China, manages China's first PPP water contract in Macao, operates one of Asia's largest hazardous waste incineration facilities in Shanghai, and has invested over RMB 6 billion in Chongqing.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
SUEZ and partners commence construction of Philippines' largest seawater desalination plant in Metro Iloilo
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SINGAPORE, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kerry, a global leader in taste and nutrition, has released its 2026 Supplements Taste Charts for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, highlighting the region's evolving taste preferences and the rise of flavour‑forward, lifestyle‑led supplements and sports nutrition.
Across Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA), supplements are increasingly viewed as part of daily wellbeing rather than an occasional health support. Consumers are focused on benefits such as sleep, immunity, digestion, stress management, energy and emotional balance, with taste and texture now strongly influencing continued purchase and long term use.
The global supplements market is projected to reach US$107 billion by 2029 with APMEA continuing to show strong momentum. China, India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East are driving adoption, supported by rising health awareness, busier lifestyles and growing interest in personalised nutrition.
Flavour‑Forward Trends Redefining Supplements
Consumers are moving away from traditional pills toward more flavour-forward formats such as gummies, chews, drink mixes, dissolving strips and powder blends. Here, flavour plays a critical role in masking functional bitterness, reinforcing emotional cues and signalling naturality or efficacy. Three major flavour movements stand out across Asia Pacific and the Middle East:
Simplicity Amplified
Consumers are gravitating toward transparency and ingredient authenticity. Flavours inspired by whole foods, botanicals, fermented notes, and lightly‑sweet or sour profiles signal purity and nutrient‑dense simplicity. Popular flavours include citrus, yuzu, ginger, turmeric, matcha, elderflower, cultured dairy, and yogurt. These pair naturally with today's lifestyle-friendly formats where the flavours enhance a product's perceived health benefits.
Category Crashers
As mealtimes blur and routines shift, consumers aren't sticking to traditional food, beverage, or supplement boundaries. Category Crashers spotlights the emergence of hybrid products that break the mould: savoury energy bars, confectionery-inspired supplement formats, coffee‑infused condiments and more. These hybrids are about creative formats and unexpected pairings that reflect how people eat today.
Maximalist Flavour
Maximalism takes centre stage in 2026, spurred by younger consumers who want bold, layered flavours that deliver high sensory impact. Dessert‑style profiles, sour intensities, spicy‑accented formats, and flavour stacks such as tiramisu passionfruit or brownie chocolate create memorable, intense taste experiences. This trend reinforces supplements as lifestyle treats rather than functional obligations.
Within these trends, sports nutrition continues to broaden beyond athletes to active consumers who expect flavour to match function. Simplicity Amplified is seen in refreshing citrus hydration blends, botanically‑infused recovery options, and natural dairy flavours in high‑protein systems; Category Crashers bring café‑style profiles, soda‑inspired electrolytes and fruity energy shots; and Maximalist Flavour is evident in extreme sour or spicy pre‑workouts, and multi‑layered profiles in protein shakes.
"Consumers across APMEA are demanding more from their proactive health products, not only clinically supported benefits, but also flavours that excite," said Olivier De Salmiech, Vice President, Health & Therapies, Kerry Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa. "When products taste great, has science-backed benefits, and integrate naturally into everyday life, they become wellness rituals consumers look forward to."
SINGAPORE, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kerry, a global leader in taste and nutrition, has released its 2026 Supplements Taste Charts for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, highlighting the region's evolving taste preferences and the rise of flavour‑forward, lifestyle‑led supplements and sports nutrition.
Across Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA), supplements are increasingly viewed as part of daily wellbeing rather than an occasional health support. Consumers are focused on benefits such as sleep, immunity, digestion, stress management, energy and emotional balance, with taste and texture now strongly influencing continued purchase and long term use.
The global supplements market is projected to reach US$107 billion by 2029 with APMEA continuing to show strong momentum. China, India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East are driving adoption, supported by rising health awareness, busier lifestyles and growing interest in personalised nutrition.
Flavour‑Forward Trends Redefining Supplements
Consumers are moving away from traditional pills toward more flavour-forward formats such as gummies, chews, drink mixes, dissolving strips and powder blends. Here, flavour plays a critical role in masking functional bitterness, reinforcing emotional cues and signalling naturality or efficacy. Three major flavour movements stand out across Asia Pacific and the Middle East:
Simplicity Amplified
Consumers are gravitating toward transparency and ingredient authenticity. Flavours inspired by whole foods, botanicals, fermented notes, and lightly‑sweet or sour profiles signal purity and nutrient‑dense simplicity. Popular flavours include citrus, yuzu, ginger, turmeric, matcha, elderflower, cultured dairy, and yogurt. These pair naturally with today's lifestyle-friendly formats where the flavours enhance a product's perceived health benefits.
Category Crashers
As mealtimes blur and routines shift, consumers aren't sticking to traditional food, beverage, or supplement boundaries. Category Crashers spotlights the emergence of hybrid products that break the mould: savoury energy bars, confectionery-inspired supplement formats, coffee‑infused condiments and more. These hybrids are about creative formats and unexpected pairings that reflect how people eat today.
Maximalist Flavour
Maximalism takes centre stage in 2026, spurred by younger consumers who want bold, layered flavours that deliver high sensory impact. Dessert‑style profiles, sour intensities, spicy‑accented formats, and flavour stacks such as tiramisu passionfruit or brownie chocolate create memorable, intense taste experiences. This trend reinforces supplements as lifestyle treats rather than functional obligations.
Within these trends, sports nutrition continues to broaden beyond athletes to active consumers who expect flavour to match function. Simplicity Amplified is seen in refreshing citrus hydration blends, botanically‑infused recovery options, and natural dairy flavours in high‑protein systems; Category Crashers bring café‑style profiles, soda‑inspired electrolytes and fruity energy shots; and Maximalist Flavour is evident in extreme sour or spicy pre‑workouts, and multi‑layered profiles in protein shakes.
"Consumers across APMEA are demanding more from their proactive health products, not only clinically supported benefits, but also flavours that excite," said Olivier De Salmiech, Vice President, Health & Therapies, Kerry Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa. "When products taste great, has science-backed benefits, and integrate naturally into everyday life, they become wellness rituals consumers look forward to."
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Kerry Launches 2026 Supplements Taste Charts: Defining the Next Era of Flavour in Supplements and Sports Nutrition
