BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government eyes the start of the bidding for a bulk water project by June next year, which involves tapping the surface water of Malogo and Embang Rivers at the borders of Victorias City, EB Magalona and Talisay City, serving three water districts, disclosed Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz yesterday.
Diaz said that Embang River can supply 40 million liters per day (mld) while the Malogo River can supply even more.
He added that Silay and Talisay Water Districts have already submitted their letters of intent to source water from the bulk water project, while the Bacolod City Water District has not yet submitted the quantity of water they will require.
“Currently our water sources are just from the ground, and are now contaminated, because it does not go through the process of purification and sanitation,” Diaz said, stressing also that the bulk water project will also address the problem of lack of water supply.
Diaz yesterday led the first meeting of the technical working group (TWG) with representatives from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center and their USAID consultants, aiming to train the PPP core group and TWG “on the job.”
The provincial government is now in the process of studying the distance to the local government units, right of way, acquisition of land and area where the plant will be constructed.
“Right now there are already investors who have inquired about our plans but I told them to wait for us to finish our studies so we can open the project to solicited proposals,” Diaz pointed out.
The bulk water project is part of the Safe Water Project and Sanitation of the provincial government aimed at addressing the rising cases of water- borne diseases in Negros Occidental.
This is a flagship program of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to give safe potable water to Negrenses, Diaz said.*
