• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Following the extension of the bidding for the P1.2-billion bulk water supply project of the Negros Occidental provincial government, two more firms have expressed interest to join the bidding set on Oct. 28, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said on Monday, Sept. 9.
“It’s all systems go for the Oct. 28 bidding,” he added.
Nellas said that they have recently finished consultation with the bidders regarding the details of the 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/day (MLD) of water 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, and Victorias, and the municipalities of Manapla and E.B. Magalona.
The project shall be implemented through a joint venture agreement with the provincial government for a period of 38 years, inclusive of the construction period.
The municipalities of Manapla and E.B. Magalona, cities of Victorias, Talisay and highly-urbanized city of Bacolod have already issued a resolution of no objection (RONO) to the project.
Only Silay City has not issued a RONO.
With or without the RONO, the project will continue, Nellas said.
Mayor Joedith Gallego earlier said that they are not in favor of the move of the provincial government to tap the surface water of Imbang River, claiming that it will affect their sources of water.
Based on the certificate of water availability issued by the National Water Resources Board, about 100 MLD will be sourced from the Malogo River, and 34 to 36 MLD will also be generated from the Imbang River.
While the Malogo River is the main intake point, Nellas said they included Imbang River because of its proximity to the cities of Silay, Talisay, and Bacolod.
Even without water from the Imbang River, they already have enough water from the Malogo River, he added. | GB
