BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO
Thursday, November 17, 2016
The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry isoffering to help the Bacolod City Water District find a solution to improve the current water situation in Bacolod City and cope with the growing demand.
Frank Carbon, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Western Visayas regional governor and MBBCI chief executive officer, yesterday said they offered to help Baciwa convince its Board to look for funds to fast-track the improvement of its distribution system and they will help in sourcing it.
He said the bulk water supply project will not be able to solve the water problem since Baciwa still has to prepare its distribution system.
Baciwa is looking for P200 million for another supply augmentation while waiting for the bulk water project. But the officials of MBCCI suggested that Baciwa secure a P2 billion loan to fast-track the improvement of its water supply to meet the growing demand with the entry of big infrastructure development projects to the city.
JenelynGemora, Baciwa assistant general manager for operations, however, said the problem is the civil society who will question why theywill obtain another loan when the problem has not yet been addressed.
Carbon said they believe Baciwa is capable of paying the P2 billion loan in the next 5 to 10 years.
They will help draft the proposal to secure the loan and will again sit down with Baciwa when the new Board comes in next year, he said.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor EvelioLeonardia has informed Baciwa yesterday of his choice of directors for the sectors on women and education, that will be vacated by directors Ma. Aida Torre and LorendoDilag, respectively, by the year end.
Baciwa director Dave Villanueva said the mayor has re-appointedLorendoDilag andappointed MonaDiaJardin to represent the sectors on education and women, respectively,for a term of six years covering 2017 to 2022.
Their appointment will take effect on January 1, 2017, he said.
On the other hand, Baciwa general manager Mario Macatangay said their meeting with the officials of the MBCCI yesterday included a briefing on the present water supply status and the immediate measures to address the problem, the status of the bulk water supply project and the unsolicited proposal of MetroPacific Investment Corporation that was rejected by Baciwa.
Ryan Yap Kyanwee, chairman of the Bacolod Bulk Water Inc., said that as of mid-October the bulk water project is about 33.2 percent complete.
Kyanwee said injection point is about 1 percent ahead of schedule, while injection point two has a slippage of 1 percent which is minimal since they are confident that they can catch up.
They will put up their plant in Salvacion, Murcia, he said.*CGS
