The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) will actively promote the public-private partnership scheme support its various water supply development projects in the countryside up to the end of the Aquino administration in 2016 which would entail a total capital investment of more than P9 billion.

This was learned from LWUA board of trustees acting Chairman Rene Villa in his speech during the forum on Water-Promoting Public-Private Partnership organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Pasay City. 

Talking on the topic, “Driving countryside Water Supply Development through the PPP,” Villa said that LWUA recognizes the potentials of the PP scheme in providing the funding, technical and other resource requirements for the construction of new water supply systems and further improvement and expansion of existing waterworks. 

He said the PPP scheme could be very applicable particularly in provincial areas with limited available government resources for water supply development or improvement but “where the State/government ownership of water shall not be compromised.”

LWUA has projected a capital investment of P9.443 billion to support and implement 320 locally-funded and 120 foreign-assisted projects with a proposed funding mix of 28 percent foreign loan, 71 percent national government funding and 1 percent LWUA internal cash generation on a conservative scenario. 

Villa said the objectives of the program is to increase the number of people served by piped potable water to almost 20 million by 2016 from 17 million as of 2012 by improving the existing water systems and installing water facilities in the still numerous waterless areas within the jurisdiction of LWUA and its partner local districts. 

“Given the huge capital requirement which the national government may not be in the position to support entirely even with Official Development assistance and foreign borrowings, I think the PPP would be much avail in water supply development especially the types that would suit the local conditions, sentiments and temperaments,” Villa said.  

Source: The Philippine Star; People, Events; 3 January 2013