In Bacolod City, three companies have expressed their initial interest in bidding for the proposed Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (NBWSP), valued at PHP1.2 billion, under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework. The interested firms include Manila Water Company Inc., Aboitiz InfraCapital, and Balibago Waterworks System Inc.
Rayfrando Diaz II, the Provincial Administrator and chairperson of the PPP for the People-Selection Committee, expressed satisfaction with the response, noting that the three companies had acquired bid documents in December. Diaz highlighted the positive development as a step forward in addressing water scarcity issues in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City.
Diaz mentioned that other industry players interested in the project can obtain bid documents until January 31, with the pre-selection of qualified bidders scheduled for February 7.
The NBWSP encompasses 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, drawing water from the Imbang River and/or the Malogo River. The project aims to supply treated bulk water to six water service providers, namely Bacolod City Water District, Silay City Water District, Talisay (City) Water District, Victorias City Water District, Manapla Water District, and the Local Government Unit of E.B. Magalona.
The implementation of the project involves a contractual joint venture with the provincial government spanning 38 years, including a three-year construction period. The project responds to the escalating concern regarding the sustainability of water supply sources in Negros Occidental, primarily relying on groundwater, which currently accounts for only 8 percent of availability. The NBWSP seeks to tap into surface water resources, constituting 92 percent availability, to meet the rising water demand, ensuring a potable, sustainable, and resilient water supply for the local population while reducing reliance on groundwater and deep wells.
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