By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson hopes he can successfully woo at least one investor during a forum for the proposed bulk water project of the provincial government next month.

Lacson said he thinks he would be able to convince an investor to take on the project.

The provincial government will host an investors’ forum on August 10, and is expected to be attended by companies such as Aboitiz InfraCapital, Manila Water, Suez Water Technologies, San Miguel Corporation, and Genesis Water Technologies.

If all goes well, Lacson said they will conduct the bidding for the bulk water project in the third quarter and the awarding within this year.

Four local government units — the cities of Silay, Talisay and Victorias, and Manapla town — in northern Negros Occidental expressed intent to be the beneficiaries of the bulk water project under the public-private partnership scheme.

The project would tap the Malogo and Imbang rivers as surface water resources./DGB, WDJ