Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, has secured a key endorsement from the Iloilo City Local Development Council (LDC) for its P5-billion Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project, a major step toward improving long-term water security in the region.
The endorsement, granted on May 21, follows the city’s award of Original Proponent Status to AIC and a series of public consultations involving barangay officials, civil society, and private sector stakeholders.
The project is now under consideration by the Iloilo City Council for final approval.
“We appreciate the LDC’s recognition that this project supports the city’s development plan. It is a crucial step in delivering a reliable and sustainable water supply for all Ilonggos,” said AIC president and chief executive officer Cosette V. Canilao.
The project proposes to divert 86 million liters per day of potable water from raw sources through a treatment facility and distribute it to Iloilo’s key water distributors, including the Metro Iloilo Water District. The initiative directly addresses the city’s high dependence on expensive vended water—costing up to P225 per cubic meter via tankers and the equivalent of P2,500 per cubic meter if bought in five-gallon containers.
“What is clear is that the most expensive kind of water is no water at all,” said Iloilo City Councilor Rex Marcus B. Sarabia. “This project aligns with the Treñas administration’s commitment to ensuring safe, accessible, and consistent water for every household.”
The Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project is aligned with the city’s Comprehensive Development Plan 2023–2028, aiming to enhance water sustainability and sanitation access. AIC also operates the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project, the country’s largest, and views its Iloilo venture as another transformational, not transactional, investment.
