Bulakenyos to finally drink water from their own watershed

CITY OF MALOLOS – Bulakenyos will finally savor fresh surface water supply coming from their own mountains as Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado officially confirmed the soon realization of the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project.

Ironically, the watershed of two major dams of Bulacan has been the main source of water supply of millions of residents in Metro Manila but the people of Bulacan has never tasted their own supply of fresh surface water.

Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alavarado said that the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project will soon cater to the water needs of Bulakenyos in the province’s 21 towns and three cities through the different water districts in the province.

San Miguel Corporation-K Water Consortium will officially start the project this month after winning the bid for offering the lowest bulk water charge per cubic meter at P8.50 per cubic meter.

The governor also explained that winning bidder will finance the project and undertake the detailed design and construction. It will also maintain the conveyance facilities, treatment facilities and water source during a 32-year concession period.

“It’s a blessing to the province and to the people of Bulacan. The project will not only fulfill our dreams of tasting their own water supply which has evaded Bulakenyos for many years but will also open many job opportunities when the winning bidder begins the pipe-laying phase of the project,” Alvarado said.

He also assured the Bulakenyos that the cost of the new supply of water will be much lower compared to that in Metro Manila.

He thanked President Benigno Aquino III for this latest blessing adding that the people of Bulacan will also not forget his concern in expediting the repair and strengthening of the 47-year old Angat dam which is now on-going.

The Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project is one of the water projects of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System under the Public-Private Partnership scheme.

Meanwhile, some sectors are also waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court on the water rights of Bulacan under Sec. 7, Article 10 of the Philippine Constitution.