DAVAO CITY, Philippines—More than 1 million residents in Davao City now have better water security, improved public health outcomes and local economic growth, thanks to the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP), according to Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC).
The project, a partnership between AIC and the Davao City Water District (DCWD), is one of the country’s largest bulk water supply facilities. Its success offers a clear model for Iloilo City, which is also pursuing a similar bulk water public-private partnership.
Aboitiz InfraCapital’s water subsidiary, Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., jointly operates the DCBWSP with DCWD. Since February 2024, the project has been delivering 300 million liters of clean, potable water daily from the Panigan and Tamugan Rivers, reducing the city’s dependence on groundwater.
The project has had a significant economic impact, according to project data. It involved a P15.5-billion investment and generated more than 4,000 jobs during construction and 500 jobs in operations. In 2024 alone, it contributed P188 million in government tax revenues and a P1.07-billion contribution to Davao’s Gross Regional Domestic Product.
The number of customers with a 24/7 water supply has increased to 96 percent from a previous 77 percent. The DCWD has also tripled new water service connections, from 8,600 in 2022 to over 21,000 today.
“We have seen firsthand how infrastructure—when done right—can transform lives,” said AIC president and chief executive Cosette Canilao.
“Apo Agua is both a critical water project and a vital growth enabler for Davao City… That’s the same kind of impact we’re working to bring to Iloilo,” she said.
The project also includes a social responsibility component called Project Blue, a collaboration between Apo Agua, DCWD, and the Aboitiz Foundation. In 2024, the initiative donated 134 pipeline rolls to enhance the water supply system in Barangay Tamugan, a community near one of the project’s main water sources.
As a result, over 1,070 households now have access to piped water, which helps reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and frees up time previously spent hauling water.
The proposed Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project, with a total investment of P5 billion, aims to divert water from a raw source for treatment and delivery to the city.
The project is expected to provide 86 million liters of potable bulk water daily, ensuring a reliable and consistent water supply for Iloilo’s growth.
AIC said it is working with stakeholders to lower production costs to ensure rates are reasonable for consumers while supporting the city’s development.
, a partnership between Aboitiz InfraCapital and the Davao City Water District, is serving over a million people and setting a precedent for similar projects in Iloilo City.){kind=link}