Cebu-based water firms pull out project in Bohol

CEBU, Philippines - Water technology solutions providers Pilipinas Water Resources Inc. (PWRI) and Aqua Pure Resources Water Resources Inc. pulled out its P20 million water distribution project in Carmen, Bohol due to political issues.

Because of this, the project venture between the two water solutions companies incurred a revenue loss of at least P300 thousand a month, said Aqua Pure chairman Antonio Tompar.

According to Tompar, these companies, inked a 20-year deal with the previous Local Government Unit (LGU) administration with the town of Carmen, where the famous Chocolate Hills is located.

But, when another LGU leadership came in, led by Carmen Mayor Conchita Toribio de los Reyes, the rule has changed.

 Both PWRI and Aqua Pure are working together to help countryside areas take advantage of abundant and affordable water supply in partnership with several LGUs across the country.

The project, which had been supplying bulk water and distribution service to the residents of Carmen, provides a total of 500 cubic meters a day. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by PWRI, Aqua Pure and the previous LGU.

Both companies jointly invested a total of P20 million for establishing the equipment and other needed facilities, following the signing of the agreement in 2009.

Before PWRI and Aqua Pure came in, the municipality of Carmen used the traditional untreated water supply for the residents. Tompar said the introduction of the project offered ample supply and safe water for both corporate and household use.

Besides, because the project which was in partnership with the Carmen municipality, the town can also earn from the revenue, as based on the contract a certain percentage of the income will be given to the municipality’s coffers.

Tompar said that the companies decided to pull out the project due to the new regulation followed by the new administration in providing “free water” to the residents.

According to Tompar, both companies already have pending collectibles for the monthly bills from residents which already reached P3million, within the seven-month operation.

“We are supposedly planning to expand the project, because of the growing demand from residential and private investors. But, we were forced to discontinue our operation as the business is already losing,” Tompar said.

Aqua Pure is one of Cebu’s pioneering companies that introduced the water purifier technology and distribution.

PWRI on the other hand, is a Lhuillier-led water bulk provider, with LGU partnerships all over the country.

Already, PWRI has inked similar projects in other provinces, like Palawan, Mindanao, and Luzon, as well as some municipalities in Cebu.