The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has received more than 60 letters of interest for the first 135 water rights it is opening for private investments.
In an investment forum co-organized by the Department of Finance and the Department of Agriculture in Pasay City, yesterday, DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo Davidsaid the first 135 water rights are in 78 local government units (LGUs).
These include most populated cities of more than 200,000 individuals per city: Bacolod, Iloilo, Tarlac, Tagum, Naga, Butuan and General Santos.
Also in the list are Baliuag, Daet, Laoag, Koronadal, Capas, Tuguegarao and Tayabas which have a population of more than 100,000 individuals and Kalibo, Surallah, Roxas, Sablayan, Cabadbaran, Prosperidad and Asingan with a population of more than 50,000 individuals.
Investments in water will be made through unsolicited proposals and will replicate the model used in securing the proponent for the Bulacan bulk water project. Proponents will be selected based on the lowest rate to beneficiary local government units.
David said an additional 112 water rights will be offered in the second batch. These are smaller in size at less than 173 million liters per day, compared to the first 135.
“They are a little bit smaller but there is still excess water supply nonetheless and some are even okay for energy generation for hydro. In the datasets we provide, it also includes the nearest LGU and population,” David said.
“We also provide catchment information, elevation for those interested in power generation as well as if an area is located in a protected area or in an area with indigenous people. There are also computations on the availability of water,” David added.
