• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II on Wednesday, Jan. 3, said that three investors have bought bidding documents for the P1.2-billion bulk water supply project of the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
Diaz identified the three companies as Manila Water Company Inc., Aboitiz InfraCapital and Balibago Waterworks Systems Inc.
“We are happy that there are already three companies interested in pursuing the bulk water project under a public-private partnership,” he added.
Diaz said the project is aimed at solving the water supply problem of local government units in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City.
Other interested investors have been given until Jan. 31 by the provincial government to buy the bidding documents.
Under a PPP scheme, the provincial government seeks to enter into a joint venture agreement (JVA) with a private investor to fund the P1.2 billion project.
The Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project involves the financing, engineering design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a bulk water supply system with a minimum capacity of 34.5 million liters per day to be sourced from the Imbang River and/or Malogo River.
It is expected to supply treated bulk water to six water service providers in cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Victorias, as well as municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Manapla.
In Negros Occidental, groundwater availability is only at 8 percent, creating an urgent need to utilize other water sources, including surface water resources, which have 92 percent availability.
The project shall be implemented through a JVA with the provincial government for a period of 38 years, inclusive of the three-year construction period.
The pre-selection of qualified bidders is slated on February 7.
Diaz said that the provincial government is looking for a company with a track record such as number of projects that are similarly situated in other parts of the country and the volume and capacity of their water plants. | GB
