Manila Water Exploring Partnerships in Preparation for Bulacan Water Bid
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Business
MANILA Water Company, Inc. said it is exploring potential partnerships ahead of its possible participation in the P24.4-billion Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project auction.
This comes as the Ayala-controlled utility confirmed its interest in the first water supply-related public-private partnership (PPP), which was rolled out by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) last month.
"Manila Water is studying the bid documents issued by the MWSS to determine the viability of the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project," the company said in a disclosure on Friday.
"Manila Water is likewise exploring the possibility of partnering with other entities to take advantage of combined expertise should it finally decided to bid for the same," it added.
On Thursday, fifteen companies attended the prequalification conference for the project. Six others Filinvest Development Corp., San Miguel Corp. Megawide Construction Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV), Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and the Lopez Group's First Balfour, Inc. -- confirmed their interest in the project.
San Miguel said it intends to participate in the public auction for the project, while Megawide said it has yet to make any "definitive agreements or decisions made in connection with the project."
AEV said it is "currently evaluating the feasibility of the project."
On the other hand, First Balfour's parent First Philippine Holdings Corp. said it is "studying the documents to determine whether or not it will submit its application for prequalification as well as the structure of its participation."
Other firms that bought prequalification documents and attended the conference were named by MWSS as: New San Jose Builders, Inc.; Marubeni Corp.; Sojitz Corp.; Korea Water Resources Corp.; Prime Water Infrastructure Corp.; Datem Water, Inc. -- earlier reported as the local partner of Malaysia's AlloyMTD Group; and Spanish companies Acciona Agua and Abengoa.
Prospective bidders were directed to submit applications for prequalification to the MWSS Prequalification, Bids and Awards Committee on or before Sept. 19 postponed from an earlier deadline set on Aug. 5 as requested by the interested parties.
The companies will be evaluated based on legal grounds and technical and financial capability.
Prequalified bidders will be invited to submit bids but the timeline for the actual bidding has yet to be announced.
The Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project involves the design, financing, construction, development, operation and maintenance of facilities for bulk supply of treated water to 22 Bulacan water districts.
The project -- which will come in three phases -- will be executed via a 30-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract with the government.
Besides this project, the MWSS also plans to roll out another water PPP this year: the $416.09-million New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project. It will involve the construction of 600-million-liters-per-day (MLD) dam; 2,400-MLD water conveyance tunnel; as well as access roads, bridges and drainage system.
The project will be under a 25-year BOT contract with the government.
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