- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
About 67 prospective investors are joining the Investors Forum on the Bulk Water project of the Negros Occidental provincial government on Aug. 10 at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City.
Among the firms that will join the forum are Aboitiz InfraCapital, PrimeWater, Tubig Pilipinas, Metro Pacific Water, San Miguel Holdings Corp., Datem Water Inc., Maynilad Water Services, Suez, Almana Group of Companies, Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc., and Bohol Water Utilities Inc.
Of the 67 participants, 21 will attend in-person, while 46 others will join the forum online, as of Aug. 4.
Anticipating that it will be an “interesting event”, Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said they are hoping that they can start the bidding for the bulk water project as soon as possible.
Under a Private Public Partnership (PPP) scheme, the provincial government seeks to enter into a joint venture agreement with a private investor to fund the P1.2 billion project, and would allocate P100 million as its own equity, to ensure low tariff rates for consumers in the five local government units that will avail of the water supply.
The bulk water project has a capacity to produce 31 million liters per day (MLD), with the surface waters of Imbang and Malogo rivers to be tapped as source.
After the forum, Diaz said they will finalize the legal documents and submit them to the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGeps) for bidding.
Aside from the water districts of Manapla, Victorias City, EB Magalona, Silay, and Talisay, the Bacolod City Water District also expressed interest to avail of 10MLD for the duration of the project, subject to the conduct of due diligence and execution of a definitive agreement./GB
