ADB extends technical assistance to water project in Negros

MANILA, Philippines — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is extending technical assistance for the development of a bulk water supply project in Negros Occidental through the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

The PPP Center said the multilateral lender through the Southeast Asia Public Management, Financial Sector, and Trade Policy Facility, has extended technical assistance to the agency and the province of Negros Occidental to develop the bulk water supply project.

“The technical assistance covers capacity building and project preparation advisory services in line with ADB’s Local Governance Reform Program,” the PPP Center said.

The assistance would help participants gain the necessary knowledge and skills in developing and preparing procurement documents for solicited bulk water supply and septage PPP projects through a learning-by-doing approach.

The bulk water supply project that aims to address the rising water demand is one of the priorities under the province’s seven-point development agenda.

It involves the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of a bulk water supply facility.

By developing surface water as a sustainable source of potable and resilient water supply, the province would be able to reduce its reliance on deep wells.

The project is a collaboration between the PPP Center, the US Agency for International Development Philippines Safe Water, and the ADB.

Last April, the PPP Center and the provincial government of Negros Occidental signed a memorandum of agreement for the development of a pipeline of PPP projects.

As part of its local PPP strategy, the PPP Center is providing support to local government units (LGUs) in the implementation of PPP projects including transportation, water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, health, information technology, and government property development.

The local strategy is in line with the implementation of the full devolution of functions of the executive branch to LGUs following the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling, which transfers the delivery of basic services to local governments and increases the LGUs’ share in national taxes.