THE town of Trinidad and Richli Corporation, represented by Mayor Atty. Roberto C. Cajes and firm president Ralph B. Lim, respectively, signed the other day the bulk water supply contract for the latter to supply potable water to town residents.
The mayor said that a lot of towns is watching on this first ever public-private partnership (PPP) entered between Trinidad and the Richli Corp as far as bulk water supply is concerned.
He added that this must be sustained for others to emulate.
The signing of the deal at the municipal hall was witnessed by Vice-Mayor Fernando Erio, municipal councilors Joanne Cajes Imboy, Francisco Gonzales, Pepe Tabada, Manuel Garcia, ex-mayor Bebe D. Cajes, Atty. Cabading, heads of offices, media and other personalities.
The signing came after a meticulous study for months to make it feasible undergoing procedural and processes required by the government, the mayor said.
The mayor stressed that the bulk water supply deal is in preparation for the El Nino, which is, according to PAG-ASA, expected to last until the middle of next year.
He said this (preparation) is also in consideration of the fact that this town expects that the enrolment of its Trinidad Municipal College (TMC) would swell to over 7,000 students next school year. Hence, potable water is necessary for them and the residents.
According to the mayor, the contract provides that, among others, the company shall erect a treatment facility to clean the water from upstream Ipil river since this water may not be tidy.
He also said that the company will help in technical know-how, when needed, and provides additional cisterns to store water supply from the treatment facility of the company.
Another salient point of the contract, the mayor said, is that the company cannot directly supply water in bulk to other towns but it should be coursed thru the municipality since this will serve as an economic venture of the town.
Richli president Lim said after the signing that the deal involves an investment of over P90 million and the water treatment facility to be constructed may not be the same as the multi-million facility built in barangay Patrocinio, Cortes town.
The Trinidad water treatment facility of Richli company is expected to produce some one million liters per day (1mld) of potable water and this is more than enough to supply the town residents, Lim said.
The company supplies water in bulk directly to the cisterns of the town and the latter do the distribution to the households (considered level 3 water) or for those who may avail of its services under the town’s water system.
Vice Mayor Erio pointed out that the potable water to be supplied by the company may not be that costly, at P30 per cubic meter, or about P0.60 per jug. Each cubic meter of water consists of about 50 jugs/container (of about 4-5 gallons) of water.
This is much lower than those in water refilling stations that sold at P20-P25 per jug/container.
He joked that this potable water by the company may make one having whiter skin and prevents baldness.
The company is expected to finish the treatment facility within six months to ten months.
The company saw the need to supply the lack of potable water to Boholanos. It is now known as potable bulk water supplier, making use of surface water. Presently, it is providing potable water to Tagbilaran City, Panglao, Dauis, Cortes and Baclayon. Its source is surface water from Cortes, Bohol.
The company is the sister firm of Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, a well-known exclusive resort in Panglao Island established by spouses Richard and Phoebe Lim.
Other companies associated with the Richli are the Artemis Salt Corp., Starport Trading Corp., Tacloban Solid Cement Corp., Starport Bohol Cement Corp. and Metropolitan Real Estate Inc. (rvo)
