President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Monday, Jan. 19, that the Sum-ag Water Treatment Plant has the capacity to produce up to 75 million liters of potable water per day that is expected to benefit around 100,000 households, or approximately 500,000 residents in Bacolod City and the municipality of Murcia in Negros Occidental.
Marcos, who visited the treatment plant in Barangay Salvacion, Murcia, acknowledged Tubig Pilipinas Group Inc., through its subsidiary Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI) for making the project possible.
He also recognized the contribution of international expertise, including water treatment and automation technology from Israel-based Watermatic International, to the initiative’s success.
The ₱1.5 billion investment, funded through shareholder equity with participation from Climate Fund Managers and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), reflects strong confidence in the country’s infrastructure sector, Marcos said.
The Sum-Ag Water Treatment Plant is a significant step toward improving access to clean, reliable water for the people of Bacolod City, he said.
Safe and dependable water is essential to protecting public health and sustaining economic growth, he pointed out.
“It is an initiative that represents sound infrastructure planning and responsible investment in our country’s future,” Marcos said.
“As we all know, water is a precious resource that sustains our health and our life and enables economic activities. When water systems work, progress flows,” he said.
Considered one of the largest water treatment facilities in the Negros Island Region, the Sum-Ag Water Treatment Plant significantly strengthens Bacolod City’s long-term water security, the president said.
The President also stressed the importance of public-private sector partnerships in addressing the country’s development challenges and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to delivering “well-planned” infrastructure that directly benefits the people.
BENITEZ
Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the BBWI is one of the largest water supply investments in the Visayas and will make plans of securing water a reality.
“With a capacity of 50 million liters per day now, it can already supply up to half of Bacolod’s current demand,” he said. “That gives us stability, resilience, and better cost management as our city continues to grow.”
Benitez said water security today is no longer just about infrastructure; it is about resilience in the face of climate change, population growth, and urban expansion. Planning capacity ahead of demand helps avoid shortages and rising costs, he said.
He noted that Bacolod is still largely dependent on deep wells as its main source of water.
“This is neither sustainable nor reliable in the long term. Over-extraction stresses our groundwater, increases operating costs, and exposes us to shortages during peak demand. Our plan is to gradually retire these deep wells as primary sources and convert them into strategic water reserves,” he said.
“This will enable us to activate them only when needed—especially during summer months—bridging temporary shortages without passing additional costs on to consumers,” he said. “In this way, we protect our groundwater, stabilize supply, and keep water affordable for our people.”
Benitez thanked Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. and the Tubig Pilipinas Group for their confidence in Bacolod and their long-term commitment to public service.
“As Bacolod moves forward, our goal remains clear: growth that is planned, people-centered, and sustainable—growth that improves daily life and prevents future crises. If we continue to plan well, build responsibly, and govern with discipline, what we launch today can become a model for other cities,” Benitez said.
ISRAELI ENVOY
Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh said the Sum-ag Water Treatment Plant is another concrete example of the long-standing Israeli–Philippine partnership in agriculture and water.
“This project is not only about infrastructure. It is about vision, technology, trust — and the deliberate transfer of technology and know-how, “ she said.
She said the initiative demonstrates how water management and agriculture together form the foundation of food security.
This project was made possible through the generous support of international partners — the European Union, the government of the Netherlands, and Climate Fund Manager, she said.
THANK YOU
BBWI and Tubig Pilipinas Group Inc. chairman and president, Ryan Wesley Yapkianwee, thanked Benitez for helping his firm hasten the acquisition of the road right of way for the project.
They have the lowest rates for bulk water in the country despite increases in operational cost, Yapkianwee said.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya and Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas said the steady supply of bulk water provided by the firm will spell progress for their local government units.*
