The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental (PGNO), in partnership with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Safe Water, held the Pre-Bid Conference for the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (NBWSP) on February 7, 2024 at the Capitol Building in Bacolod City.
Eleven (11) prospective bidders have shown interest in the bulk water supply project, whose representatives attended the pre-bid conference, including the Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Inc., Balibago Waterworks System, Inc., First Balfour Inc., PrimeWater Resources Inc., BW Water, Inc., Aboitiz Infracapital, Inc., Primewater Infrastructure Corp., MacroAsia Properties Development Corporation, Maynilad Water Services Inc., San Miguel Holdings Corp. and M.E. Sicat Construction, Inc.
The Pre-Bid Conference served as an avenue for the prospective bidders to raise clarificatory questions and provide insights pertinent to the provincial government’s bulk water project and the bidding process.
Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando P. Diaz II, PPP Center Project Development Service Director Atty. John Dominic Z. Zafe, and project consultant Engr. Johan Martinez responded to the bidders’ queries during the open forum.
The private sector partner for this PPP Project is expected to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the bulk water supply system through a joint venture with the PGNO for a period of thirty-eight (38) years, inclusive of the construction period.
The project requires a minimum capacity of 34.5 million liters/day (MLD) to be sourced from the Imbang River and/or Malogo River, and is expected to supply treated bulk water to six (6) Water Service Providers in the Province of Negros Occidental, namely: Silay City, Talisay City, Victorias City, Bacolod City, Municipality of Manapla, and Municipality of EB Magalona.
With the conclusion of the Pre-Bid Conference, the submission of bids for the project is indicatively scheduled by end-June 2024, followed by award to the winning bidder and contract signing within Q3 2024.