BACOLOD CITY — Amid ongoing water shortages and complaints over limited access to potable water, PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. and the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) have activated the Matab-ang Water Treatment Plant in Barangay Granada, supplying an additional 3 million liters per day (MLD) to the city.

The new facility aims to address persistent supply gaps affecting thousands of residents, particularly in Barangays 27, 28, 30, Estefania, Villamonte, and Mandalagan, where water scarcity and low pressure have become part of daily life. The plant is expected to double its output to 6 MLD within the year.

“This project is just one of the initiatives and developments we are implementing together with our joint venture partner, BACIWA, to ensure a more stable water supply that we provide to our consumers,” PrimeWater said in a statement.

For months, households across Bacolod have reported unreliable water supply, often receiving water for only a few hours per day. In some areas, residents rely on deep wells or purchase expensive bottled water due to concerns about water portability.

Critics have long pointed to the deteriorating infrastructure and lack of investment as key reasons for the city’s water woes.

The Matab-ang project includes a one-kilometer transmission line connecting the treatment facility to a 2.6-million-gallon reservoir in Loygoy. From there, water will be distributed to households through the city’s pipeline system.

PrimeWater and BACIWA said they remain committed to improving service delivery and expanding access through long-term infrastructure investments. However, residents continue to demand more immediate and consistent relief, especially as the dry season intensifies water supply challenges across Negros Occidental.