For most of his life, Jehremiah “Jehri” Asis thought his path was already written. A top student from Philippine Science High School and the University of the Philippines, he had the makings of a corporate lawyer: precise, analytical, and efficient. But as fate would have it, his career would one day flow toward something more elemental: water.
Today, Jehri is leading one of the country’s most successful public-private partnerships in wastewater management. Through his company, JCA 1221 Holdings, he conceptualized and led the implementation of the Puerto Princesa Sanitation Project, the first city-scale facility in the Philippines to integrate septage and sewage treatment to produce recycled water.
That project, now fully operational, has quietly reshaped Puerto Princesa Bay. The once-foul waters that locals avoided have been restored, clear enough to host Ironman and international dragon boat races. “We prevent up to 4,000 cubic meters of wastewater from polluting the bay every day,” Asis says. “At the same time, we release an equivalent amount of recycled water that helps dilute other outflows. It’s a dual action that accelerates the bay’s natural recovery.”
His approach to wastewater treatment is equal parts technical ingenuity and local empathy. “We didn’t just want to clean the bay,” he says. “We wanted to create something sustainable: a project that could support itself, use solar power for portions of the facility, and demonstrate that recycled water can be safe and useful.”
From corporate lawyer to water advocate
Asis’ shift from project finance law to environmental infrastructure wasn’t planned. After years of building a successful law practice, he experienced a turning point — a near-fatal car accident that left him physically unharmed but profoundly changed. “It made me question what I was really meant to do,” he says. What followed was a period of reflection, leading him toward work that combined his legal, financial, and technical skills in service of a bigger cause. His fascination with aquariums as a hobby also contributed to his passion for wastewater treatment given that the concepts, such as the nitrogen cycle, are very similar.
That cause took form in JCA 1221, whose motto — Serbisyo, Hindi Negosyo — captures his belief that sustainability must also be accessible. “We aim to be profitable and sustainable, but we temper that profitability to keep services affordable,” he explains. “If people can’t afford to clean polluted water, the environment will continue to suffer.”
Innovation for islands
Puerto Princesa became ground zero for a new way of thinking about wastewater. The plant runs on solar energy, recycles up to 4,000 cubic meters of water daily, and uses treated water for gardens, fish ponds, and cleaning facilities. During Typhoon Odette, the plant even supplied recycled water to communities when other systems went offline.
Since then, his model has expanded to Gingoog City in Mindanao and Del Carmen, Siargao, each customized to local needs. Gingoog now boasts a Seal of Good Local Governance, while Siargao’s upcoming facility will include solid waste management to handle the island’s tourism waste challenges.
“What makes this model unique is that it works for any scale — large cities, growing towns, or small islands,” Asis says. “Pollution is the same whether it happens in an urban center or a remote barangay. That’s why we go where others won’t.”
Technology that follows nature’s rhythm
Rather than rely heavily on chemicals or energy-intensive processes, JCA 1221’s technology enhances natural purification. “Our machines help nature instead of destroying it,” he says. “They mimic natural processes, which means lower power use, less maintenance, and less impact.”
At the heart of the system is a data-driven monitoring layer that allows engineers to remotely track water flow, chemical balance, and energy consumption in real time. The company’s use of automation and IoT sensors ensures that even small local governments can maintain operational efficiency without needing large technical teams on site. Jehri’s team is also piloting solar-assisted UV disinfection systems that use minimal energy compared to chlorine-based sterilization, and exploring AI-assisted diagnostics for early detection of filtration and mechanical issues.
From Puerto Princesa to Siargao, Jehri Asis has shown that clean water and sustainable growth don’t have to be opposing goals. It’s a framework built on science, law, and purpose — proof that one lawyer’s path to restoration can help entire communities do the same.
