Long-term water security strengthened for Bacolod

By Glazyl M. Jopson

MURCIA, Negros Occidental — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inspection of the Sum-Ag Water Treatment Plant in Barangay Salvacion, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Monday, highlighting the project as a model of sound infrastructure planning and responsible investment that strengthens the country’s long-term water security.

The President toured key components of the facility, including the water intake system, flocculation area, clarifier tanks, automated chemical dosing facility, and multimedia filtration system.

Officials from Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. also briefed him on other water supply facilities serving Bacolod City and the Municipality of Murcia.

The visit concluded with a demonstration of the pipeline fusion process.

Marcos emphasized that water is a precious resource that sustains life, protects public health, and enables economic activity.

“When water systems work, progress flows,” he said, noting that the water plant demonstrates how effective collaboration between the public and private sectors can deliver sustainable solutions for communities.

Commissioned by Bacolod Bulk Water Inc., a subsidiary of Tubig Pilipinas Group Inc., the plant sources surface water from the Sum-Ag River.

The facility is designed to enhance Bacolod City’s long-term water security by supplying treated bulk water through the city water district and the Bacolod City Water District–PrimeWater distribution network.

With an initial production capacity of about 15 million liters per day, the plant can serve an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 households, benefiting communities primarily in southern Bacolod City.

The facility supports residential and commercial water needs, including those of schools, hospitals, and other public institutions, while helping improve public health and reduce environmental risks.

Officials said the project reflects strong investor confidence in the Philippine infrastructure sector.

The project also benefited from international expertise in water treatment and automation technology provided by Israel-based Watermatic International.

“I congratulate everyone for the completion of this facility,” Marcos said. “Projects such as this remind us that as long as we work together, we can transform communities for the better.”

Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Benitez described the event as a milestone for the city.

“Today is an important day for Bacolod because we are inaugurating infrastructure that supports one of life’s most basic needs—water,” Benitez said. “Not just pipes and pumps, but water that flows into our homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses.”

Benitez stressed the need to shift away from overreliance on deep wells, which he said is neither sustainable nor reliable in the long term.

Under the city’s plan, deep wells will gradually be retired as primary sources and converted into strategic reserves to be used only during peak demand or dry months.

This approach aims to protect groundwater, stabilize supply, and keep water affordable.

He added that the plant is among the largest water supply investments in the Visayas and will play a crucial role in meeting Bacolod’s growing demand.

With an expanded capacity of up to 50 million liters per day in future phases, the facility could supply as much as half of the city’s current water requirements.

“Water security today is no longer just about infrastructure,” Benitez said. “It is about resilience in the face of climate change, population growth, and urban expansion.”

The congressman thanked Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. and the Tubig Pilipinas Group for their long-term commitment to public service and cited Marcos’ presence as a sign of the national government’s priority on infrastructure development under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.

“As Bacolod moves forward, our goal remains clear: growth that is planned, people-centered, and sustainable,” Benitez said.

The Sum-Ag Water Treatment Plant was completed in January 2025, with the 12.5-kilometer Murcia–Bacolod transmission pipeline finished in March 2025 as part of Phase 2 of the Bacolod Bulk Water Supply Project.

The facility currently delivers 15 million liters per day of potable water.

Phase 1 of the project is the Ngalan Water Treatment Plant in Barangay Granada, commissioned in October 2017, which initially supplied 10 million liters per day and now produces 24 million liters per day.

Despite inflationary pressures, the Ngalan facility remains one of the lowest-cost bulk water projects in the Philippines.

Phase 3 involves the Caliban River Intake in Barangay Abo-Abo, Murcia, completed in October 2025 and adding 20 million liters per day of available capacity.

At full scale, the integrated system is capable of serving more than 750,000 people and supporting the long-term water needs of both Bacolod City and Murcia.