‘Give us bulk water project documents’

THE Utilities Consumer Alliance of Negros (Ucan) is asking the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) to provide them certified true copies of several documents related to the bidding and the awarding of the bulk water supply project to Mactan Rock Industries Inc. (MRII) in a joint venture with Tubig Pilipinas and TVG Builders Inc.

The MRII was the lone bidder that won the pre-bidding of Baciwa’s bulk water supply project on July 1 and 2, 2015 for its two injections points in Hacienda Loygoy, Barangay Granada and in Barangay Mansilingan.

Baciwa Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairperson Genelyn Gemora clarified that even if the MRII was the winning bidder, the name in the contract of the bulk water supply project will be under the MTPP (MRII, Tubig Pilipinas, and TVG Builders Inc.) because of the joint venture.

In its February 1 letter addressed to the BAC, Baciwa Board of Directors, and general manager Mario Macatangay, the Ucan said that it came to their attention that despite the fact that MRII was the winning bidder, still a contract has not been signed between the MRII and Baciwa.

Rev. Fr. Ernie Larida, president of Ucan, said there were many issues that came out in the media that a “group or consortium” was awarded with the project and signed a contract with Baciwa.

“Having no idea on the said issues, if this is true, there is a need to enlighten the consumers in order to avoid misunderstanding of the situation,” he added.

Larida said that Ucan, as a consumers group with no other agenda but to protect the interest of member-consumers of Baciwa, wants to fully appreciate and understand what happened to the bulk water supply project and the bidding and is asking for copies of documents pertaining to it.

rThese include Terms of Reference, Notice of Award, Post-Qualification Report by the Technical Working Group (TWG) and/or the BAC, board resolutions approving and/or conforming and/or ratifying the report/findings of the BAC or the TWG, and the technical and financial documents submitted by the MRII during the bidding.

Larida added that “providing documents to its member-consumers in the exercise of the right of the people to information somehow creates a feeling that the officers and employees of Baciwa have nothing to hide and that all activities are above board and in accordance to what is provided by the law, rules and regulations.”

Gemora had earlier said the signing was delayed because the contract still had to undergo a review by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel since the Baciwa has no legal counsel.

The bulk water supply project will provide potable water sourced from springs or surface water only at a minimum volume of 10,000 cubic meters to a maximum of 15,000 cubic meters per day per injection point for the first year with increasing volume over the contract period.

It has an approved budget capital, at a fixed price of P10 per cubic meter, equivalent to P54.75 million for the first year for each injection point for a period of 25 years.

The MRII bidding price for Injection Point 1 was P8.85 per cubic meter and for Injection Point 2, P9.85.