- GILBERT BAYORAN
A company owned by business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. has expressed interest in investing in the bulk water project of the Negros Occidental provincial government.
This was revealed Monday by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, following a meeting between executives of the Razon-owned firm and Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, last week.
The Prime Infra of Razon also engaged in bulk water supply project, in tandem with a developers’ group based in Metro Manila.
“So far, we have two investors interested in our bulk water project,” Lacson said.
But he said they will know how many companies are interested if there is already a call for bidding.
Executives of Aboitiz Infra Capital, who earlier made a presentation to Lacson and Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez, said the company will invest P2.8 billion for the Capitol bulk water project.
Benitez, in a press conference, said he was told by officers of the Bacolod City Water District that three proponents are eyeing to provide Baciwa with bulk water supply.
“That’s the call of Baciwa, maybe, they’re confident in their suppliers three to four years down the line,” Lacson said when asked for his reaction.
While Bacolod City is very important, or integral to the project since the volume of water it needs is far bigger than the rest of the water districts in the province, Lacson said Capitol “will just have to think of some ways to make the project attractive, even when Bacolod is not around.”
The governor admits that it will be very challenging.
If Baciwa needs it in three to four years, when the Capitol Bulk Water Project is realized, the governor said they are still willing to accommodate the former since Bacolod is considered a major taker of water, since it is a highly-urbanized city and has the bulk of the population./GB
