The Negros Occidental provincial government may rebid its P1.2 billion Bulk Water Project, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, June 2.
The consortium of First Balfour Inc., Victorias Milling Co. and FPIP Utilities Inc. was the lone bidder for the project.
Lacson said the consortium proposed to sell its bulk water at P24 per cubic meter, which is too high.
“Out takers are not amenable to that so we are looking for ways to bring the price of down and one of that is to put in more equity,” he said.
The provincial government is willing to increase its P200 million equity in the project and ask the bidders to lower the selling price of the bulk water, he said.
“Water security is really a concern and we hope to convince bidders to bring down their cost of the water,” he said.
Lacson is taking his oath as governor for his third and final term on June 28.
The governor said the bulk water project will be among his priorities, along with the improvement of the facilities at the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia.
He will also focus on completing projects already started and on expanding others, Lacson said.*