MCWD opens bids for water generation

CEBU, Philippines - The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) now opens its water generation business to private entities to help solve the looming water shortage problem in Cebu.

MCWD director Joel Mari S. Yu announced that the agency has already identified top 20 “thirstiest” areas in the metropolis of which water generation rights will be given to winning bidders for water generation operation.

“We will now allow small players to come in,” Yu said stressing that by doing this, it will solve the water shortage problem in Cebu.

At present, MCWD is only serving 40 percent of the total consumers (residential and commercial) in its franchise area.

To break down the problem, Yu said the board has decided to let the private water entities to help solve the problem, prioritizing the “thirstiest” communities in Cebu, which include barangay Lahug, Talamban, among others.

In this way, MCWD can focus its works on water distribution business, which will incur the agency at least P500 million a year. This is to expand and improve the water distribution network of MCWD.

“We are now open for proposals from water suppliers. They will be the one to generate water at the identified areas. Water will be pumped at the area where it is needed,” Yu said adding that MCWD will also engage the expertise of National Water Resources Board (NWRB) for the quality and sustainability.

At present, the Abejo Builders Corporation, a small water supplier company has already started to supply 10 cubic-meters bulk water to MCWD. This will aid the distribution of water to large communities, which supply of water is short.

Also, water Solutions Company Mactan Rock Industries Inc. and Filipinas Water Resources Inc., have also submitted proposals to MCWD, but these unsolicited proposals still have to be examined by the board, Yu said.

This year, a minimum of 30 cubic-meter water supply will be added to MCWDs distribution capacity. In the following year, another 30 cubic-meters a day will be added, he bared.

More than 60 thousand cubic-meters of water deal is now being negotiated by MCWD with private suppliers. This will add to the water supply in Cebu in the next two years.

“MCWD will not [anymore] spend on water generation. All money will be spent to improve and expand the distribution network,” he said.

About 60 percent of the population in Metro Cebu is sourcing their water from wells, or buying water from “somewhere else.” Big subdivisions, including resorts have their own water system.

Unlike the power problem, Yu said the water shortage problem in Cebu can be easily arrested. The move to open up the generation business to private suppliers is a one-step forward to solve this basic urban problem.

As of 2007, Metro Cebu’s total demand of water is estimated at 250,000 cubic meters to 300,000 a day. The Metro Cebu Water District is only supplying 40 percent of this demand, while the rest is supplied by private deep well operators.