The Negros Occidental provincial government will gather some five potential investors for its P1.2-billion bulk water supply project during a forum on August 10.

Companies that have expressed intent to invest include Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., Manila Water Company Inc., San Miguel Corp., Suez Water Technologies, and Genesis Water Technologies Philippines.

“The date of the investors coming here has been moved to August. That’s the latest,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday.

He added that if the Bacolod City Water District-Prime Water submitted a letter of intent to avail of the bulk water supply, they can be included in the forum.

At least six local government units in the northern part of the province are expected to benefit from the development aimed to ensure the availability of safe, clean and potable water for Negrenses.

The investors’ forum was set up after the province completed the study for the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Project in partnership with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, Asian Development Bank and the United States Agency for International Development last month.

Under a PPP scheme, the provincial government seeks to enter into a joint venture agreement with a private investor to fund the P1.2 billion project, and would allocate P100 million as counterpart funding.

With the plan to use surface water from the Imbang River and Malogo River in Silay City and E.B. Magalona town, the “project demonstrates the power of collaboration and shared vision in effecting initiatives of utmost importance and urgency, ensuring the availability of safe water to every Negrense,” Lacson said.

In Negros Occidental, groundwater availability is only at eight percent, creating an urgent need to utilize other water sources, including surface water resources, which have 92 percent availability. (PNA)