• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A consortium won the bidding of the P1.2 billion bulk water project of the Negros Occidental provincial government, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday.
Lacson said that First Balfour, which forms part of the Lopez Group of Companies, with Victorias Milling Company as the local partner, won the bidding.
Other companies that earlier expressed interest in the Capitol bulk water project, did not join the bidding which was held on December 11.
“It was considered a successful bidding,” Lacson said.
The documents submitted by the winning bidder are now being checked by the Bids and Awards Committee, he added.
“It’s good that a local company is willing to invest,” Lacson added.
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 River.
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 consortium submitted a bid of P24 per cubic meter of water.
“It’s cheaper than the P20 per bottled water being sold in the market,” the governor said.
Lacson said the construction of the bulk water project is expected to start next year.
About 100 million liters per day (MLD) will be sourced from the Malogo River, and around 34 to 36 MLD will also be generated from the Imbang River, Provincial Government Focal Person for Public Private Partnership projects, Atty. Jessa Genteroles, disclosed earlier.
The construction period of the bulk water project is expected to be completed within three years.*
