By JEN BAYLON

The bidding for the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project has once again been postponed, now rescheduled for December 11.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II announced that the bidding, originally set for Friday, November 22, was extended following a request from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.

The extension will allow bidders additional time to complete their bid documents.

This marks the third delay in the bidding process, which was initially scheduled for July, then moved to October, and now again to December.

Earlier, 12 companies expressed interest in the project, which will be a PPP project with an investment estimated to cost P1.2 billion.

Diaz said the winning bidder will enter into a contractual joint venture with the provincial government to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain a bulk water supply system, which aims to produce an additional 40,000 million liters of water per day.

The bulk water project will serve six water service providers in the cities of Silay, Talisay and Victorias, as well as the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Manapla, and capital Bacolod.

Diaz reiterated that the project will not only source water from the Imbang River in Silay City and the Malogo River in E.B. Magalona town, but will also include a comprehensive water security plan to ensure a sustainable and reliable water supply for the region.

The provincial government is committed to securing long-term solutions to water scarcity through this project./JB, WDJ