• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two more prominent companies have joined the bidding process for the P1.2-billion bulk water project of the provincial government of Negros Occidental, bringing to five the number of investors that have bought bidding documents.
This was disclosed yesterday by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in his New Year’s message to the Capitol employees, following a mass at the Social Hall in Bacolod City.
He identified the two other bidders as First Balfour Inc. and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., aside from the Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Aboitiz InfraCapital, and Balibago Water Works System Inc.
Interested investors have been given by the provincial government until Jan. 31 to buy the bidding documents.
Lacson said the interest expressed by these companies is evidence of their “confidence in the project, our initiatives for water security, and the effectiveness of our governance.”
This project will last for decades and will benefit the next generations of Negrenses, he added.
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 the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Victorias as well as the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Manapla.
Under a Private-Public Partnership (PPP) scheme, the provincial government of Negros Occidental seeks to enter into a joint venture agreement with a private investor to fund the P1.2- billion project. | GB
