Good project but bad publicity

By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN

IT IS SHOCKING to note that the June 27 much-awaited scheduled bidding for the ambitious P1.2 billion bulk water project of the provincial government of Negros Occidental was postponed.

The reason: Only one of the remaining 10 pre-qualified bidders showed up.

The rest, said Acting Provincial Administrator Alberto Nellas Jr., asked for a postponement and more time to prepare their bid documents.

So, Nellas said, the bidding date was reset to October this year.

Hearing this news seemed weird for everyone, especially for the Capitol Brats (capitol beat reporters), noting that suspended Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II was previously loud and proud in trumpeting the said bidding.

Diaz and Gov. Bong Lacson are confident that the project under public-private partnership (PPP) for 38 years will push through no matter what happens.

To be called the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (NOBWSP), such is poised to attain water security in the province.

Target sources: Malogo and Imbang rivers in EB Magalona town and Silay City, respectively.

Target capacity: 34.5 million liters per day (MLD).

Target beneficiaries: Local government units of Manapla, Victorias City, EB Magalona, Silay City, Talisay City, and Bacolod City.

JOEDITH’S WISDOM

Silay City’s Mayor Joedith Gallego in May expressed vehement opposition to the project.

Gallego does not want NOBWSP to utilize water from Imbang River in Silay for fear that it will lead to a water crisis in their city.

Likewise, the mayor said farmers and sugar planters, including businessmen in Silay,  are not also amenable with the project, fearing that it will dry up the river and may cause problems on irrigation systems later.

“Joedith’s Wisdom” was concurred by Silay’s Vice Mayor Tom Ledesma, who also stressed that such a proposed project needs a thorough scientific and technical study.

Two days after Gallego’s pronouncement against the proposed NOBWSP, Aboitiz InfraCapital, one among the 11 pre-qualified bidders, instantly dropped its bid, as announced by Diaz to the media on May 17.

Aboitiz InfraCapitol refused to give details about its decision.

Then, Negros environmentalists belonging to Green Alert Network (GAN) and Group of Environmentalists and Socialists (GOES) joined Gallego’s bandwagon in opposing the project.

The governor, however, declared he will find ways to pursue the project with or without the support of Gallego or Silay City government.

NEGATIVE PUBLICITY 

Question: Are the pre-qualified bidders still okay to bid for the project?

Per experience in the corporate jungle, once a proposed project is imbued with negative publicity, investors become deterred.

Negative or bad publicity is like a “killer jab” against any business endeavor.

Capitol failed to manage such “unsavory news” until it easily metastasized.

FINANCIAL HAVOC

Why does negative publicity matter to private business corporations?

Because private entities heavily invest in good PR (public relations).

Why? Because good PR can secure a head start to attract clients or add-on investors.

Negative PR can destroy the company’s reputation, leading to considerable financial havoc.

For the capitol not to focus on media relations is disastrous. Yes, Lacson is still a strong gubernatorial material for 2025. But losing lots of opportunities through notable projects that positively impact the lives of many due to negative publicity is quite absurd.

The governor and his “trustees” should learn their lesson in handling project publicity involving private investors.

Good project. Nice intention. But wrong handling of publicity. A project disaster in the offing./PN