Villar water utility firm to ink Zambo ecozone deal

MANILA, Philippines - Villar-owned Prime Water Infrastructure Corp. is set to sign a deal with the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority (Zamboecozone) and Freeport for the supply of water and water treatment services in the ecozone.

In a statement, Zamboecozone said the agreement, which would be signed by former Sen. Manuel Villar and Zamboecozone chairperson and administrator Christopher Lawrence Arnuco tomorrow, covers the construction and management of a water treatment facility and bulk water supply project with an investment of over P742 million.

Under the deal, Prime Water would treat and supply 50,000 cubic meters a day of water to the Zamboanga City Water District for distribution to the residents in the city’s west coast, particularly in the Ayala district, as well as 15,000 cubic meters per day of water to the Zamboecozone and Freeport.

The deal likewise covers forest protection in the ecozone.

The construction work is expected to start by July and would be completed within a year.

“It is expected to generate hundreds of jobs for the residents in the area during its construction phase, and an average 15 committed employment every year of its 30-year project life,” Zamboecozone said.

The deal is expected to generate employment and attract investments to the ecozone.

The Zamboecozone and Freeport, which covers about 16,000 hectares, hosts 15 companies with total committed investments worth P10 billion.

Firms which invest in the economic zone could enjoy income tax holidays, duty-free importation of goods as well as very low lease rates.

The deal also supports the local government’s Build Back Better Zamboanga program to reconstruct the city damaged by the stand-off between the military and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) last year.

Government forces and MNLF fighters were engaged in hostilities for three weeks in September after the rebels occupied several villages and took civilians as hostages in the city.

Prime Water has more than 30 years of experience in the operation and maintenance of water distribution systems, providing support to communities, real estate development and water authorities.

The firm provides water to more than 150,000 households across the Philippines and produces more than 170 million liters of treated water daily.