DENR pushes 2027 deadline for new Iloilo bulk water supply

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

A top official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Iloilo must have a new bulk water supply operational by 2027, warning that the city’s rapid urban growth will further increase water demand in the coming years.

Carlos Primo David, DENR undersecretary for integrated environmental science and head of the Water Resources Management Office, said the government is working on a concrete plan to address Iloilo City’s long-standing water supply concerns.

“I sat down with Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu and we have now a plan for bulk water supply of water to Iloilo not in 2028 or 2029 but hopefully by next year,” he said on Thursday, May 7, following a courtesy call with the city mayor.

The WRMO integrates and harmonizes government efforts for sustainable water resource management nationwide by coordinating water-related policies through the Local Water Utilities Administration and local water districts.

David stressed that addressing the city’s water shortage has become urgent as Iloilo continues to position itself as one of the country’s fastest-growing urban centers.

“It’s today, now or never, that we have to solve the problems of (Iloilo City) in terms of water. You’re a growing city. We look up to Iloilo City as a model city. But a model city cannot have water problems much like other utilities like power, internet and transportation,” he said.

He did not disclose specific details about the proposed bulk water supply system but noted that “it will be coming from various sources.”

David said there are six applications for bulk water supply to the city, and the agency will prioritize those that can deliver water the soonest.

“In the National Water Resources Board, we have more than six applications for bulk supply, and they are competing with each other. We will determine which among them can develop the supply the fastest and, hopefully, at the least cost. That is where I will grant the permit,” he said.

He clarified that there is no cap on the number of applications that will be approved, but there is a fixed cap on the aggregate water volume that can be permitted across all six competing applications.

David did not specify the million-liters-per-day volume that the bulk water supply will deliver.

“The strategy now is that during the rainy season, there is plenty of supply, so providers can supply as much water as is available. During the dry season, when supply becomes limited, we will have to look for alternative sources such as desalination,” he said.

He added that the bulk water supply could be distributed among different suppliers to create a “redundant system” so the city is not reliant on a single provider, and water distribution would not be affected if one supply encounters problems.

“We talked about dividing Iloilo into four sectors, with different suppliers assigned to each. But I still have to talk to Metro Iloilo Water District and Metro Pacific Iloilo Water because they are the ones distributing the water,” he said.

“I will lay down the strategy to them, and if it is acceptable, then everyone is on the same page,” he added.

In December last year, the city government formally approved the proposed PHP 5.12 billion Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project of Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., which seeks to deliver 86 million liters per day of treated bulk water for the city.

Under the public-private partnership arrangement, AIC is tasked with constructing the facilities needed to supply treated bulk water to Iloilo City’s distribution system.

The agreement sets a strict performance timeline: should the company fail to deliver the committed water volume within the prescribed period, it is required to formally declare the non-availability of supply.

In such a scenario, both the city government and the private proponent may opt to withdraw from the contract without incurring any legal or financial liabilities.