• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
All is set for the Investors Forum on Bulk Water project of the Negros Occidental provincial government on August 10, with 67 participant-investors, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz disclosed on August 7.
Among the prominent firms who will join the forum are Aboitiz InfraCapital, Prime Water, Tubig Pilipinas, Metro Pacific Water, San Miguel Holdings Corp., DATEM Water Inc., Maynilad Water Services, SUEZ, Almana Group of Companies, Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc., and Bohol Water Utilities, Inc.
Among the 67 participants listed as of Aug. 4, 21 indicated they will attend in person, while 46 others will join the forum online.
Anticipating that it will be an “interesting event,” Diaz said they are hoping that they can start the bidding for the Capitol bulk water project as soon as possible.
Under a Private Public Partnership (PPP) scheme, the provincial government seeks to enter into a joint venture agreement with a private investor to fund the P1.2 billion project, where it would allocate P100 million as its own equity, aiming to ensure low tariff rates for consumers in the five local government units that will avail of the water supply.
The bulk water project has a capacity to produce 31 million liters per day (MLD), with the surface water of the Imbang and Malogo rivers to be tapped.
After the investors’ forum, Diaz said they will finalize legal documents and submit it to the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGeps) for bidding.
Aside from the water districts of Manapla, Victorias City, EB Magalona, Silay and Talisay, the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) also expressed interest to avail of 10MLD for the duration of the project, subject to the conduct of due diligence and execution of a definitive agreement.
The Investors’ Forum will be held on Aug. 10 at the Ayala Capitol Central Function 1 Hall in Bacolod City.*
