Bacolod City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental is eyeing the bidding of its Bulk Water Project by July this year, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz disclosed recently.
Among the investors eyeing the project are the Ayala Group, and Aboitiz Infra Capital, a company owned by tycoon Enrique Razon.
With many investors interested in the bulk water project of the Negros Occidental provincial government, Diaz said that they are eyeing to hold an investors forum by June this year.
“With the way things are going on, where everybody is excited, as many have expressed interest in submitting unsolicited proposals for the project, I have requested our consultants to expedite the procedures,” the Provincial Administrator added.
Diaz said that they are now studying the Terms of Reference, with the help of their consultants.
He added that they are looking at the legality and financial viability, specifically the possibility of not increasing tariff rates.
“In the long run, the people of the local government units (LGU) who will get water from our project will also be happy,” he added.
The provincial government is looking at tapping the surface water of Malogo and Embang rivers in the 3rd district of Negros Occidental, for its bulk water project.
Diaz also revealed that the congressional districts are willing to counterpart with the projects, as the province is looking into ways to lower the capital expenditures (CAPEX), so that they will have lower costs to recover from the tariff.
“This project is for the Negrenses, not to suffer from the high cost of their utilities,” Diaz said.
He added that the provincial government does not want private interests “to dominate the contract of the bulk water project.”
Public interest should always be considered, especially in the rates, Diaz further said. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)