• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental provincial government is expected to negotiate with the winning bidder of its P1.2 billion Bulk Water Project, over the cost of the water that it will produce, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed yesterday.
Lacson said they are still assessing the financial and technical aspects, along with the qualification documents submitted by the consortium of First Balfour Inc. with its local partner Victorias Milling Company, the lone bidder for the project.
After the assessment, he said they will negotiate for a much cheaper price.
The consortium submitted a bid of P24 per cubic meter, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz revealed earlier.
The Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (NBWSP) 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 Rivers.
It is expected to supply treated bulk water to six water service providers in the Negros Occidental in the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, and Victorias, and the municipalities of Manapla and EB Magalona.
Lacson said the Capitol Bulk Water project is exempted from the election ban, as it started way before the election period, which the Comelec will start implementing January 12.
He also expects to start the negotiation on the price of water produced by the consortium within the first quarter of 2025.*
