The Iloilo City Local Development Council (LDC) has approved the bulk water supply project of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) for the province.
The LDC gave its approval and endorsement to the Iloilo City Council last May 21, 2025 following the granting of Original Proponent Status to AIC, and a transparent and thorough public consultation that sought the diverse inputs of public and private stakeholders from the city and barangay government, civil society, as well as retail and institutional customers.
“We appreciate the LDC’s recognition that the project supports the local development plan. It is an important step in moving the proposal forward to ensure water security for Ilonggos,” AIC President & Chief Executive Officer Cosette V. Canilao said.
“What is clear, therefore, is that the most expensive kind of water is no water at all. What is clear from the discussion at the ExeCom (Executive Committee) meeting is that it is the policy of the Treñas Administration to pursue all solutions to deliver safe, consistent, potable water to all Ilonggos–not just to uplift our standard of living, but most importantly to save lives,” said Iloilo City Councilor Atty. Rex Marcus B. Sarabia, LDC member and Chairperson of the Iloilo City Council Committees on Appropriations & Finance and Good Government & Public Accountability (Blue Ribbon Committee).
AIC’s PHP5 billion bulk water supply project, totaling P5 billion in investment, involves diverting 86 million liters per day (MLD) of potable bulk water from a raw source through a water intake facility. Following a thorough treatment process, the treated water will be delivered to different city off-takers.
The LDC endorsement following a consultative and transparent approach that engaged public and private stakeholders alike, now paves the way for next-phase City Council approvals.
During the LDC meeting, the steep and unsustainable cost of vended water was highlighted: up to P225 per cubic meter from tankers, and up to P2,500 per cubic meter for every five-gallon container.
Full alignment
The Iloilo City Comprehensive Development Plan 2023-2028 identifies the city’s priority legislative requirement goals of sustainable and improved water quality and supply on major river sources, and availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project is expected to unlock benefits such as clean, affordable water for underserved communities. The project will also generate jobs during construction and operation phases and boosts agricultural and commercial productivity.
In addition, it will mean reduced reliance on deep wells, promoting environmental stewardship and provide ong-term water resiliency in the face of climate-related challenges.
Meanwhile, AIC’s water subsidiary, Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., jointly operates with the Davao City Water District the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP). The DCBWSP is the country’s largest bulk water supply facility, delivering 300 MLD of clean and potable water 24/7 to 96% of DCWD households (with a 99.6% customer satisfaction rating as of end-2024).
The DCBWSP was named the Best PPP in the Philippines by the UK-based International Finance Awards, a prime example of the transformative potential of PPPs in driving sustainable urban development.
