The Iloilo provincial government is considering a partnership with water service providers, potentially with Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.’s (AIC) water subsidiary, Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc., for its P70 million rural water systems program.
The project aims to address widespread water access gaps across the province, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said during the Water Dialogue 2025 held June 19, 2025.
Banias said the provincial government is open to private sector partnerships, noting that nearly half of Iloilo’s households still lack access to clean water. This prompted the allocation of P70 million for water infrastructure in underserved areas.
Apo Agua presented its Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) as a potential model for replication in Iloilo.
The project, developed in partnership with the Davao City Water District (DCWD), supplies 300 million liters of potable water daily to more than 1 million residents. It sources water from the Tamugan River and integrates water treatment with renewable hydropower.
“This is not just innovation; this is governance,” said AIC president and chief executive Cosette Canilao.
“It’s a model that can work not just in Davao, but in Iloilo, and beyond. We must avoid dependency on any single provider. Redundancy builds resilience, and diversity improves quality and ensures the highest service to the communities.”
She emphasized that the DCBWSP follows a structure where bulk water production and distribution are separated, with Apo Agua handling the former and DCWD managing the latter.
This governance model, she stressed, minimizes conflicts of interest, improves accountability and ensures performance transparency.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, who also spoke at the forum, stressed the urgency of expanding water infrastructure in the region.
“We need water, not tomorrow, we need it yesterday,” Treñas said. “I believe that through our partnership with the private sector, we are investing in a long-term solution for a water-secure future.”
Organized by the Iloilo Business Club in partnership with the Regional Development Council VI and co-presented by AIC, Water Dialogue 2025 brought together national and local leaders, industry players and civil society to explore integrated solutions for water security in Western Visayas.
