In response to ongoing concerns regarding water supply in Bacolod City, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez convened a meeting with officials from the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) and PrimeWater on Friday, April 11, to discuss both immediate and long-term solutions.
The dialogue was participated by representatives from key local government departments, including the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), and the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), highlighting a unified approach to tackling the city’s water challenges.
At the meeting, Benitez emphasized the urgent need for collaboration among all stakeholders and called for the immediate formation of a dedicated task force. This task force will be responsible for expediting the processing of requirements for the energization of the crucial Matab-ang River water source.
BACIWA-Primewater reported that Bacolod City’s current water production has reached 78.78 million liters per day (MLD) as of April 10, 2025. This represents a significant increase from the 69.96 MLD recorded during the same period last year.
However, it was also noted that the significant difference in surface water provided by Bacolod Bulk Water, Inc. (BBWI) between March and April in both 2024 and 2025 is attributed to the low supply of surface water. To counter this, the energization of the Matab-ang River injection, expected this week through a generator set, is projected to significantly augment the city’s water supply.
If the operation of the Matab-ang River injection proves successful, numerous areas across Bacolod are expected to benefit, including Villamonte (La Salle area), Estefania (Capitol Heights and Greensville), Villa Angela, the Megaworld area, Barangays 27, 28, and 30.
To mitigate the impact of limited water access in certain barangays in the interim, the city government announced the immediate deployment of water tanks to several areas. These barangays include Mansilingan, Taculing, Villamonte, Estefania, Alijis, Barangay 30, Felisa, Tangub, Handumanan, and Cabug.
