Bacolod mayor backs new water provider

BACOLOD City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has expressed support on the proposed domestic water supply system of Helpmate Inc. in the city.

This was after the Bacolod City Council already approved the request for resolution of no objection (Rono) of the Helpmate Inc.

“We welcome all interested parties to invest here in Bacolod City. I proposed this two years ago to have more water concessionaire for water distribution in the city,” Benitez said.

He said the putting of another water concessionaire will bring better water service to the residents of Bacolod.

The mayor noted that the existing water supply of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa)-PrimeWater is 84 million liters per day (MLD) and as of April 11, 2025, it lowered to 77 MLD.

“Because of our current situation (the weather) our water supply lowered to 77 MLD which will affect certain portion of barangays in Bacolod City,” he said.

He added he was informed that the Baciwa-PrimeWater is now finding remedies to provide more water supply.

The mayor said the Baciwa-PrimeWater is planning to tap in Kaliban River in Murcia to augment their existing water line to have more water supply.

He said they are hopeful that Baciwa-PrimeWater can provide an additional of 5 MLD.

Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the City Council committee on laws, earlier said they received the Rono's request of the proponent, Helpmate, a water provider, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Helpmate has franchises in Cebu and Davao.

"The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) allows more than one concessioner, with regards to the water distribution, as long as the existing water provider fails to provide water supply to the consumers," he added.

Espino noted that at present, Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) PrimeWater is serving the residents of Bacolod, but they are also facing complaints of an alleged failure to provide adequate and clean water supply.

Espino said the City Council's approval of Rono does not mean that the project was approved. It means that the proponent can start to conduct a study and gather the regulatory permits.

The proponent, Helpmate, is a private entity based in Cebu. (MAP)