Bacolod lone district Rep. Albee Benitez on Monday expressed hope that the newly launched P1.5-billion water treatment plant would help stabilize the city’s water supply and ensure affordable water services for residents.

Information from the lawmaker’s office showed the project costs P1.5 billion and is financed through shareholders’ equity and long-term debt from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

The Bacolod–Murcia Bulk Water System is seen as strategically important to the province-wide water network, aimed at reducing reliance on groundwater sources while improving water security, public health, and climate resilience. The project is also expected to support economic growth by providing a reliable and affordable water supply.

During the inauguration of the Bacolod-Murcia Sum-ag Water Treatment Plant and Caliban Water Facility, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Benitez said, “At its core, this project is about securing our future, securing our water resource.”

He stressed that long-term planning is crucial amid climate and demographic pressures.

“Water security is no longer just about infrastructure as it is about resilience in the face of climate change, population growth, and urban expansion. Planning capacity ahead of demand helps us avoid shortages and rising costs,” Benitez said.

Once fully operational, the system is expected to serve more than 750,000 people and meet the long-term water needs of Bacolod City and the municipality of Murcia.

The facility, one of the largest water supply investments in the Visayas, has a capacity of 50 million liters per day and could supply up to half of Bacolod’s current water demand.

Benitez said the project would help realize the city’s long-term water security goals, providing “stability, resilience, and better cost management as our city continues to grow.”

The lawmaker noted that Bacolod currently relies heavily on deep wells, a practice he described as unsustainable over the long term.

“Over-extraction stresses our groundwater, increases operating costs, and exposes us to shortages during peak demand,” he said.

He added that the city plans to shift away from deep wells as a primary source, using them instead as strategic reserves during temporary shortages without passing on additional costs to consumers.

“In this way, we protect our groundwater, stabilize supply, and keep water affordable for our people,” Benitez said.

The congressman reiterated the city’s development goal of “growth that is planned, people-centered, and sustainable — growth that improves daily life and prevents future crises.”

He said continued discipline in planning and governance could allow the project to serve as a model for other cities.