• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As the P1.2-billion Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (NBWSP) nears the homestretch, it is facing “a little bit of a challenge”.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II admitted this yesterday, referring to the tariffs that are being asked.
“We are looking at ways forward to meet the gap between expectations of our local water districts and the offer of the bidder,” Diaz said.
The lone bidder, First Balfour, which forms part of the Lopez Group of Companies, with Victorias Milling Company as the local partner, won the bidding.
Diaz said the expectation was P14 per cubic meter, but the bidder offered P24 per cubic meter.
“There is a challenge for us to bridge the gap and to resolve that issue to make it acceptable to our constituents,” he added.
The NBWSP 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 (MLD) to be sourced from the Imbang River and/or Malogo Rivers.
Diaz said the bidder is eyeing to utilize the Malogo River, where the bulk of unsubscribed water is located.
Silay City officials earlier opposed the inclusion of Imbang River in the NBWSP, which is expected to supply treated bulk water to six water service providers in the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, and Victorias, and the municipalities of Manapla and E.B. Magalona.
The project has yet to be awarded by the provincial government to the winning bidder.
Diaz said they are still trying to review the technical and financial documents.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier issued a memorandum setting the timetable of the project up to May this year.
The NBWSP aims to address the problem of potable water shortage in Negros Occidental. | GB
