Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) expects three Chinese companies to secure procurement documents before the government agency bids out the Kaliwa dam project by March, its administrator said.

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco said funding for the project is already available through an official development assistance (ODA) from China, and had been approved by the President along with the National Economic and Development Authority.

“May funding ‘yan (There’s funding available),” he told reporters, adding that no changes had been made about the commitment from China. He said last year that a P10-billion ODA had been pledged by the foreign country to fund the project.

Under the previous administration, the P18.72-billion dam had two prequalified bidders, which are now out of the picture because of the government’s new procurement mode for the project. It used to be a public-private partnership, with MWSS as implementing agency. — Victor V. Saulon

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR