BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is looking for investors for the province’s water security plan.
Lacson spoke on the financing challenges and opportunities for Negros Occidental’s water security plan at the launch of the 2nd Philippine Water Challenge and Water Forum 2022 at Makati Diamond Residences last Wednesday, Aug. 31.
“While we made a presentation, there’s still a long way to go. By joining that forum we may be able to attract investors. These companies have corporate social responsibility which we can tap for our environment-related projects like reforestation and do away with open defecation,” he said.
The governor also said the planned bulk water project needs a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) if there is a willing investor.
Lacson said they presented their plan to have a bulk surface water project, adding that in that forum there were big companies like San Miguel Corporation, the Manny Pangilinan group and the Ayala Corporation.
“We have not finished the study yet. No mention of any amount,” Lacson said.
The governor said that they are also coordinating with the PPP Center and the provincial government will convene its newly created water security council on September 16 to review and approve a provincial integrated water security plan with the USAID Safe Water assistance.
In his presentation during the water forum, Lacson said the plan will serve as the province’s roadmap for achieving water security.
“It should guide municipal Water and Sanitation (WASH) plans, integrated water resource management and coherence of policies for service provision and resource management,” Lacson pointed out.
Negros Occidental is already in the process of approving its provincial water security plan.
“Knowing the severity of the problem we have taken affirmative actions in increasing investments, improving capacities of water service providers, planning for long term source development, and protecting and conserving our watersheds,” the governor said.
He said financing is a major challenge, given the equally urgent competing uses for the provincial budget.
“We cannot depend on public resources alone, rather we should set the enabling environment for us to leverage private resources, user fees and household investments,” he said.
On average, Lacson said 3 in 10 people in Negros Occidental do not have access to safe water supply and safely managed sanitation services.
“Water availability per capita for the province is slightly below the normal threshold, however our highly urbanized center, Bacolod City, the hub of our socio-economic activities and services is precariously in absolute scarcity already,” he said.
The province’s watersheds have been affected by massive deforestation.
“If we continue business as usual, we can lose our forest cover in 20 years,” the governor said, adding that the financing mobilized is still paltry compared to the investment requirements to meet the target access levels for water supply services./PN
