Baciwa previously projected delivery to begin in July
By Paulo Loreto Lim
Despite the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) previously affirming their bulk water project with Bacolod Bulk Water, Inc. (BBWI) is nearing completion, Baciwa general manager, Atty. Juliana Carbon, says difficulties in negotiations with landowners have resulted in the utility firm submitting contract amendments before the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).
“We will have to wait for the OGCC before making the decision to approve the amendment to the contract proposed by BBWI,” said Carbon.
She added, the decision may not come until October 10.
Baciwa and BBWI, a special purpose company composed of several consortiums, finalized a 25-year bulk water supply contract in March of last year.
Earlier this month, Project Engineer Joey Pastorel said, upon completion of the first injection point, water service will be significantly improved throughout the city. He noted, pipe-laying at injection point 1, located in Barangay Granada, was complete; while the construction of water clarifiers, multi-media filters, and flocculation tanks were nearing completion.
He insisted, “BWWI’s continuous laying and delivery of pipes in the area look very promising in its efforts to finally solve the perpetual water problem of the city.”
However, according to the contract, the water supply must flow through the Baciwa reservoir before being distributed throughout the city. Despite Pastorel’s claims the delivery of pipes “look very promising,” the supplier is purportedly having problems negotiating with individuals who own the land in which the pipes need to be laid.
Baciwa is considering dropping the requirement for water to flow through their reservoir.
Back in May, Baciwa chairman Lorendo Dilag said BBWI would begin to supply water for the utility company in July. In the said report earlier this month, Pastorel said the project is expected to deliver an initial 30,000 cubic meters in bulk water per day, and gradually increase to 150,000 cubic meters per day./PLL, WDJ