A “CLEAN water mission” has just kicked off in Bacolod City. It’s via a bulk water supply agreement (BWSA) between the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa), Prime Water Ventures, Inc. (PWVI), and Northern Negros H2O, Inc. (NNHI).
Inked at a simple ceremony at O’ Hotel on Oct. 3, the pact states that the homegrown NNHI, led by Jabez Alvarez, will provide Baciwa-PWVI with 50 million liters of clean and potable surface water per day (MLD).
However, it’s specified that in the first year of the contract, which will commence immediately after signing, NNHI will only deliver 30 MLD, then 40 MLD the following year, and 50 MLD from the third year up to the 25th year of the contract.
NNHI’s surface water, according to Baciwa General Manager Mona Dia Jardin, will be sourced from Sum-ag River in Bacolod City. Of course, it will go through various processes using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities before being delivered to Baciwa-PWVI.
There’s no disclosure yet regarding the amount of the newly-signed agreement. However, Jardin said that it will benefit 10 barangays in Bacolod, including Handumanan, Feliza, Cabug, Mansilingan, Tangub, Taculing, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Sum-ag, and Alijis. It’s worth noting that Jardin mentioned that this will pave the way for Baciwa and PWVI to gradually phase out the use of deep wells.
Why? Because aside from NNHI, Baciwa-Prime Water still has three more BWSAs to be signed later. Jardin underlined that soon, it will be a total goodbye to turbid or ‘choco’ water.
Inspired By Public Interest
What I really appreciate is what Baciwa President Lorendo Dilag said during the signing of the agreement: “This kind of agreement wasn’t rushed. Instead, it went through specific recommendations, close follow-ups, and meticulous agreements. Therefore, this is a private contract inspired by public interest,” he emphasized.
He added, “There’s beauty and essence when the core of the matter is clean water!”
For Dilag, Bacolod having this ‘clean water mission’ is indeed noble for the sake of the general public.
Quest for Drinkable Water
It is said that the quest for drinkable water is like a ‘quest for gold.’ Not everyone in the world has access to clean and potable water. According to the United Nations (UN)-Water, 2.3 billion people are living in water-stressed countries. Additionally, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) disclosed that 1.42 billion people worldwide, including 450 million children, live in areas of high or extremely high water vulnerability.
In my personal research, I found that 10 countries are currently facing a water crisis. These countries include Lebanon, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Syria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nepal, Iraq, and Sudan.
Not an ‘Ordinary Journey’
We all know that access to clean and potable water is fundamental to everyone’s HDP or health, dignity, and prosperity. Therefore, kudos to Baciwa-PWVI for their efforts in seeking potable water for the people of Bacolod. This is not an ordinary journey, of course.
Let’s be reminded that Baciwa’s and PWVI’s joint venture agreement (JVA), which started three years ago, was tagged as ‘infamous’ in Bacolod. Thus, this ‘clean water mission’ through four BWSAs is said to be the ‘best remedy’ that could restore the credibility and integrity of both Baciwa and the Villar-led PWVI.
Beyond Business
Clean and potable water is a necessity. Every resident of Bacolod, regardless of their economic status, needs it. Even the world-renowned British American poet Wystan Hugh (W.H) Auden once said, ‘Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.’
I hope Auden’s valuable quote will serve as a focal point or mantra for both Baciwa and PWVI in their monumental ‘clean water mission’ in Bacolod City.”/PN
