NegrosOccidental governor optimistic on bulk water project bidding

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is upbeat on the scheduled bidding for the proposed PHP1.2 billion Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (NBWSP) in the middle of the year.

“I’m positive that we will have a successful bidding, which will commence June of this year,” Lacson told reporters after the pre-bid conference held at the Capitol Social Hall here on Wednesday.

About 11 firms bought bid documents after the provincial government invited last December interested parties, whether local or foreign, to qualify and bid for the NBWSP.

“We’re positive right now. The day of reckoning is really the day they drop their bid. I hope that the issues on their mind were clarified and of course, we’re always open to hear them out,” he added.

During the pre-bid conference, Lacson and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II, chairperson of the PPP for the People-Selection Committee, were joined by Public-Private Partnership Center (PPP) Center director John Dominic Zafe and technical consultant Johan Martinez of the Asian Development Bank.

The groups that bought bid documents include the Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc., Balibago

Waterworks System Inc., First Balfour Inc., PrimeWater Resources Inc., BW Water Inc., Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., MacroAsia Properties Development Corp., Maynilad Water Services Inc., San Miguel Holdings Corp., and ME Sicat Construction Inc.

The pre-bid conference was conducted by the provincial government, in partnership with the PPP Center and the United States Agency for International Development Safe Water.

The 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 per day to be sourced from the Imbang River and/ or the Malogo River.

The supply of treated bulk water is for the six water service providers in the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, and Victorias, as well as the municipalities of EB Magalona and Manapla.

Its implementation is through a contractual joint venture with the provincial government for 38 years, including a construction period of three years.

The provincial government initiated the project based on “an increasing concern on the sustainability of water supply service sources in Negros Occidental, which at present are predominantly groundwater sources.” (PNA)