Sta. Rita said the Bulacan provincial government plans to bid out the water project this year.
"We are talking with different proponents but Manila Water has been very persistent," Sta Rita said.
The Ayala-led MWC concessionaire for Metro Manila’s east zone has been actively eyeing projects both here and abroad.
Sta. Rita said the provincial government would be meeting with the World Bank this week for the financing of the project.
"The World Bank facility would enable us to forego the tedious process of going through the NEDA-ICC (National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordinating Committee)," she said.
The Bulacan provincial government would package the loan and the World Bank would disburse directly to the project proponent.
The amount of the loan was not specified yet.
The water project would source water from the Angat dam and supply the needs of 10 towns in the province.
The water would be distributed by respective water districts.
Meanwhile, Sta. Rita said the Dona Remedio Trinidad Water Project, which would cost between P3 billion and P5 billion, could probably begin in the next one-and-a-half to two years.
"We have tapped a European group to undertake a detailed feasibility study on the project. The group has the right of first refusal on the project," Sta. Rita said.
Whereas the Bulacan Bulk Water project would exclusively be for Bulacan, the DRT project would help supply the water needs of Metro Manila.
The DRT project is located in Barangay Bayabas in the town of Doña Remedios Trinidad.