The Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project is being considered a practical and reliable solution to secure water for the city’s future due to its inclusive and transparent framework, ability to complement current and future infrastructure projects, and broad-based support from key public and private stakeholders.
Designed to enhance system redundancy and ensure sustainable and reliable bulk water delivery to off-takers and distribution companies, the project stands to deliver substantial benefits to both households and businesses across Iloilo.
“We see the Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project as a critical step in building a more resilient and future-ready Iloilo,” said Cosette Canilao, president and chief executive of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group. “By working closely with public and private stakeholders, we aim to create a water infrastructure system that not only meets today’s needs, but also supports the city’s growth and competitiveness in the years ahead.”
With a total investment of P5 billion, the project proposes diverting water from a raw source through a water intake facility. After a thorough treatment process, the water will be delivered to city off-takers. The project is unique because it will sell to multiple off-takers, benefiting more Ilonggos.
As a public-private partnership, the Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project will undergo a full and stringent framework, including a competitive selection process, to ensure that Ilonggos receive the best deal that prioritizes public interest.
As bulk water supply and distribution require a focused set of expertise and capabilities, differentiating the value chain ensures competitiveness and accountability. The project will unbundle bulk water and distribution, resulting in better services for Ilonggos.
In terms of capacity, the project will ensure 86 million liters per day of potable bulk water, which will directly enable a wide range of socioeconomic drivers for the city, including a reliable and consistent water supply, improved water quality and support for local and economic growth.
Through this initiative, the project aims to provide a long-term solution that promotes coexistence among existing and future water suppliers, complementing current and planned infrastructure to build a stronger, more reliable system for the people of Iloilo.
The project also builds on the active encouragement by the Iloilo City Government and the national government for private sector involvement in this issue during the Iloilo Water Dialogue held recently in the city.
“We should take advantage of opportunities for convergence, particularly in the private sector, to bridge infrastructure and service delivery gaps in the water sector,” said Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos, undersecretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, last June 2025.
Then-Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, for his part, said: “For a sustainable city, for a livable city, power as well as water, we should always have redundancy.”
The project has since received significant support from several Metro Iloilo mayors, the Iloilo City Local Development Council and a unanimous endorsement from the Iloilo City Council following consultations with local officials, civil society and business stakeholders. This demonstrates its clear alignment with the city’s development plan.
As the project progresses, AIC continues to collaborate with stakeholders to bring down production costs, ensuring that water delivery is impactful, offers fair rates for consumers and contributes to Iloilo City’s sustainable growth.
