THE Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has stepped up efforts to develop a major bulk water project that seeks to secure a reliable and sustainable water supply for Tagbilaran City and eight municipalities amid rising demand driven by population growth, tourism, and expanding economic activity.
Governor Aris Aumentado met with officials of the World Bank Group on September 16 to advance discussions on the proposed project, which is envisioned to strengthen Bohol’s long-term water security and expand climate-resilient water infrastructure in some of the province’s major growth areas.
The proposed bulk water system is eyed to serve Tagbilaran City and the municipalities of Loboc, Sikatuna, Corella, Baclayon, Albuquerque, Dauis, and Panglao, covering communities stretching from the province’s capital and neighboring towns to the rapidly developing Panglao Island.
The initiative comes as demand for dependable water supply continues to grow alongside residential, commercial, and tourism development, particularly in Tagbilaran City and Panglao.
The World Bank has identified Bohol as one of the island provinces covered by its Accelerated Water and Sanitation Project in Selected Areas (AWSPSA), which seeks to expand climate-resilient water supply, sanitation, storage, and distribution systems.
Aumentado’s meeting with the World Bank delegation was led by Water Practice Manager Michael John Webster and attended by Georges Comair, Lala Fabella, Midori Makino, Takeshi Murakami, Undersecretary Allan Canizal, and Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte.
The governor said close coordination among the World Bank and concerned national government agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is crucial in moving the project forward.
A day after the World Bank meeting, Aumentado met on September 17 with DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna and officials of the DENR and National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to pursue the water rights or permits needed for the proposed bulk water supply system.
Securing the necessary water rights is considered a key step in the project’s continued planning, financing, and eventual implementation.
The provincial government has likewise initiated the procurement of consultancy services for the inventory and securing of right-of-way needed for the bulk water transmission and distribution systems and related water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities under the AWSPSA.
The proposed project is expected to receive support from the World Bank, DPWH, and DILG as part of broader efforts to strengthen Bohol’s water infrastructure and improve access to dependable water services.
Beyond addressing present supply requirements, the province sees the project as a long-term investment in Bohol’s capacity to sustain communities, businesses, tourism establishments, and future economic growth while responding to the pressures posed by climate change and increasing demand.
The initiative forms part of the Aumentado administration’s Strategic Governance Roadmap, which identifies adequate and sustainable infrastructure as an important foundation for public welfare and economic development.
For Bohol, strengthening water security has become increasingly important as development accelerates across the province, particularly in its urban and tourism centers.
A reliable and sustainable water supply is also seen as essential to balancing continued economic growth with environmental protection in the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark. (PIMO/JSS)
