Some 10,000 households in Bacolod City will avail of improved water supply within the year through the bulk water supply agreement between PrimeWater Bacolod, the joint venture partner of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa), and the Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI) signed on Tuesday afternoon, June 25.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who witnessed the contract signing held at the Bacolod City Government Center, said in a statement yesterday that the agreement is an offshoot of the previous contract between Baciwa and BBWI that lapsed because of some issues.
“I intervened and made sure that we solved the local issues out of the necessity of water supply. We hope to monitor their production and delivery of water supply,” he added.
Under the agreement covering PrimeWater Baciwa’s injection point 2, an additional supply of 10,000 cubic meters or 10 million liters per day (MLD) will be supplied in the first year.
The supply will progressively increase to reach 25 MLD in the fifth year.
Once completed within the year, the additional water supply will benefit some 10,000 households in the southern part of the city, mainly those in Barangays Mansilingan, Handumanan, Felisa, Alijis, Tangub, Taculing, Pahanocoy, Sum-ag, and Singcang-Airport.
“We hope there will be a gradual turnaround from the worst situation during the El Niño, where our water supply decreased from 77 MLD to about 62, 64 MLD. That’s why we experienced water shortage,” Benitez said.
Between March and early May this year, the city government initiated water rationing to an average of 1,550 households per day in various barangays.
In a separate statement, PrimeWater president Roberto Fabrique, Jr. said PrimeWater and Baciwa implement targeted solutions and initiatives to ensure improved water access and quality across the city.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to enhance water services and provide sustainable supply to our consumers,” he added.
In the first week of June, PrimeWater Baciwa delivered an additional two MLD in its pipeline project along Circumferential Road in Barangay Bata, which has also improved water supply and pressure in the areas of Barangays Bata and Mandalagan, particularly in the Eroreco area.
Late last month, PrimeWater Baciwa also injected five MLD into its pipelines from the Bocal-Bocal spring in Barangay Alangilan, benefiting some 11 residential areas that previously experienced water shortage.
These are Villa Angela Subdivision, Villa Ramos, Eroreco, La Salle Avenue, Hervias 1 and 2, parts of Barangays Villamonte, 27, 28, 29, and 30. (PNA)