• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (BWSP) will undergo public scoping tomorrow, Feb. 22, in Silay City and E.B. Magalona for the Imbang River and Malogo River potential surface water sources, respectively.
Public scoping is an early stage in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process where the proponent Negros Occidental provincial government aims to provide an overview of the proposed project, gather issues and concerns, and other relevant information to provide the scope of work and terms of reference for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement, the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau Region 6 said in its notice of public scoping.
As per the project description for scoping submitted by the Capitol to the DENR-EMB6, the BWSP aims to meet the increasing water demand in Negros Occidental by utilizing surface water sources, and reducing reliance on groundwater and deep wells.
It involves the development of a bulk water supply system, including intake facilities, a water treatment plant, transmission mains, and offtake facilities, with private sector participation for financing, engineering design, construction, and operation.
It 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) to be sourced from the Imbang River and/or Malogo River, and is expected to supply treated bulk water to the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, and Victorias, and the towns of Manapla and EB Magalona.
The project shall be implemented through a Joint Venture (JV) with the provincial government of Negros Occidental for 38 years, inclusive of construction period.
Phase I will be located in Barangay Guimbalaon, Silay and will be serving the LGUs of Bacolod, Talisay, and Silay with a 27MLD water treatment facility capacity.
Phase 2 will involve the Malogo River, another major potential surface water source that can supply a cluster of cities downstream, and envisioned to augment the water supply in Victorias City and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Manapla.
The pre-bid conference for the proposed project Feb. 7 was attended by representatives from the Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc., Balibago Waterworks System Inc., First Balfour Inc., Prime Water Resources Inc., Bw Water Inc., Aboitiz Infracapital Inc., Primewater Infrastructure Corp., MacroAsia Properties Development Corp., Maynilad Water Services Inc., San Miguel Holdings Corp., and M.E. Sicat Construction Inc.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said the provincial government seeks to enter into a joint venture agreement with a private investor to fund the P1.2-billion project under a public-private partnership scheme.
“I am positive that we will have a successful bidding, which will commence in June this year,” Lacson said, adding that Capitol is looking for a partner-investor that can comply with the required 20MLD.
The province is looking to sign the JVA and water purchase agreement with the winning bidder in September this year. | CGC
