Province in search of private partners

The Cebu provincial government continues to seek private firms to be its partner for the realization of its major projects.

Capitol officials headed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia have started talks with potential investors for the waste-to-energy (WTE) and bulk water supply projects, two of the major projects of the Province.

For one, Garcia had a meeting with Farchad Kaviani, the managing director of a Paris-based company Southeast Asia for Suez Group, a firm dealing with water and waste management solutions.

“You can talk business with this government," Garcia said during her meeting Kaviani recently.

According to Sugbo News, Capitol's news network, Kaviani was impressed with Garcia's interest in dealing with potential private investors.

During the meeting, the Suez group presented its business models and expertise to the governor. They are expected to submit unsolicited proposals to the Province.

It has been a practice by the Cebu Provincial Government to seek partnership with private companies under the Public-Private Partnership scheme for the realization of its projects.

In December 2022, the Province of Cebu entered into an agreement with private consortium Waste Management Inc.– Philippines and Harvest Waste B.V for the construction of a WTE facility in the City of Naga.

As to the bulk water supply, the Capitol has started to work on the bulk water infrastructure project in over 20 local government units in the province, namely: Argao, Alegria, Alcoy, Alcantara, Asturias, Aloguinsan, Barili, Badian, Boljoon, Dalaguete, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Oslob, Pinamungajan, Ronda, Samboan, Tuburan, Tabuelan , Tabogon, Santander and San Fernando.

Because of this, the Capitol is looking for a private firm to manage these bulk water supply projects, which are aimed to provide potable water to the residents. -