3 firms vie for Quezon, Laguna water project

A unit of Ayala Corp.’s Manila Water Co. Inc. is joining the race for a water supply project that will serve parts of Laguna and Quezon.

The PPP Center said three bidders were seeking to qualify for the 20-year Lumbo Spring Bulk Water Supply project.

It said Manila Water’s Laguna AAA Water Corp. partnered with Tubig Pilipinas Group Inc. The two other bidders were Quellwasser Development Corp. and Texin Inc.

The firms submitted eligibility documents to the San Pablo City Water District (SPCWD), which is implementing the project together with the Dolores Water District (DWD).

“The Joint Venture Selection Committee is now conducting detailed evaluation of the documents,” the PPP Center said.

Firms will know whether they are qualified by Jan. 29 this year.

The Lumbo Spring Bulk Water Supply Project involves the design, construction and installation of raw water intake structures, treated water reservoir, conveyance system, pumping stations and metered interconnections facilities to SPCWD in Laguna and DWD in Quezon.

The project will mainly involve tapping the Lumbo Spring, located south of San Pablo City in Laguna and to the west of Dolores town in Quezon.

The project has an estimated budget of P103.4 million.

The current sources from the two water districts mainly come from springs and deep wells.

SPCWD had outlined potential risks due to the presence of “high iron and manganese” content, part of the project information statement showed.

“To avert such problems, there is a need for SPCWD to look for alternative sources like spring and possibly surface waters, ensuring in the process ecological balance,” it said.

DWD separately noted that demand was growing and the current water supply was inadequate to meet its needs.