BACOLOD City – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited Negros Occidental on Monday, January 19, to lead the inspection of the bulk water supply treatment plant operated by Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI) in Murcia town, underscoring national support for large-scale water infrastructure projects.
The President inspected the Sum-Ag Water Treatment Plant (SWTP) and the Caliban Intake Facility, highlighting the importance of bulk water systems in ensuring long-term water security.
The P1.5-billion BBWI project currently supplies about 40 million liters of water per day (MLD), covering nearly 40 percent of Bacolod City’s water requirements. The project also reduces dependence on groundwater sources, strengthening the city’s long-term water sustainability.
During a ceremony held in Barangay Salvacion, Murcia, Marcos said the project reflects sound infrastructure planning and responsible investment, emphasizing that reliable water systems are essential to public health, economic growth, and community development.
“When water systems work, progress flows,” the President said, stressing that water remains a vital and precious resource.
Considered one of the largest water treatment facilities in the Negros Island Region, the SWTP is a flagship public-private partnership project. It supplies treated bulk water to Bacolod City through the Bacolod City Water District, ensuring a stable and dependable water supply for residents.
With a production capacity of up to 75 million liters of potable water per day, the facility is expected to benefit about 100,000 households, or nearly half a million residents, Marcos said.
The project was developed by BBWI, a subsidiary of Tubig Pilipinas Group Inc., and features advanced water treatment and automation technologies provided by Israel-based Watermatic International. It represents a P1.5-billion investment funded through shareholder equity, with participation from Climate Fund Managers and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
Marcos said the investment reflects strong confidence in the country’s infrastructure sector, particularly projects focused on climate resilience and sustainable development.
As part of the visit, the President toured the SWTP’s water intake facility and inspected key components of the treatment process, including the flocculation area, clarifier tanks, automated chemical dosing facility, and multimedia filtration system. The inspection concluded with a demonstration of the pipeline fusion process.
The SWTP sources surface water from the Sum-Ag River in Barangay Abo-Abo, Murcia, and distributes treated water through the BACIWA–PrimeWater network, serving both residential and commercial consumers.
Primarily benefiting southern Bacolod City, the facility provides a reliable supply of safe drinking water to households, businesses, schools, hospitals, and other public institutions. It is also expected to improve public health outcomes, reduce environmental risks, and support sustainable urban development.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who accompanied the President during the inspection, welcomed the commissioning of the facility, describing it as one of the largest water supply investments in the Visayas.
“With a capacity of 50 million liters per day, it can already supply up to half of Bacolod’s current demand,” Benitez said. “That gives us stability, resilience, and better cost management as our city continues to grow.”
Benitez added that ensuring water security requires planning capacity ahead of demand to address climate change, population growth, and urban expansion while avoiding future shortages and rising costs.
Also present during the inspection were Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas, council members from both localities, BBWI executives, DBP representatives, and other stakeholders./PN
