DAVAO CITY BULK WATER SUPPLY PROJECT: A BLUEPRINT FOR ILOILO’S WATER FUTURE. Operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital water subsidiary Apo Agua in partnership with the Davao City Water District (DCWD), the award-winning Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project—the country’s largest—demonstrates the benefits and impact that could serve as a model for the planned Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project. Seen here is Apo Agua’s Project Blue, a collaboration with DCWD and Aboitiz Foundation that supported water access for over 1,070 households in Davao City’s Barangay Tamugan through its strategic donation of 134 pipeline rolls.
More than a million Davaoeños today enjoy cleaner water, stronger public health, and a boost in local economic growth, thanks to the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP)—a landmark public-private partnership between Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) and the Davao City Water District (DCWD).
Now, as Iloilo City begins its own bulk water journey, Davao’s success story provides a powerful preview of what the future holds.
Davao’s water revolution
Operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital’s water subsidiary, Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., the DCBWSP is the country’s largest bulk water facility. Since February 2024, it has been supplying 300 million liters of clean, treated water every day from the Panigan and Tamugan Rivers—significantly reducing dependence on groundwater while delivering wide-ranging social and economic dividends.
The numbers tell the story of transformation:
- Water service coverage expanded from 77% to 96%, giving more families 24/7 supply.
- DCWD tripled its new service connections, reaching more than 21,000 households.
- Over PHP 15.5 billion was invested in Davao, generating PHP 1.07 billion in revenues that strengthened the local economy.
- More than 4,500 jobs were created during construction and operations.
- Government tax revenues hit PHP 188 million in 2024 alone.
“We have seen firsthand how infrastructure—when done right—can transform lives,” said AIC President and CEO Cosette V. Canilao. “That’s the same kind of impact we’re working to bring to Iloilo.”
Beyond infrastructure: Project blue
At the core of Davao’s bulk water story is Project Blue, a community-driven initiative led by Apo Agua, DCWD, and the Aboitiz Foundation. By donating water pipelines and improving local systems, the project brought piped water to over 1,000 households in Barangay Tamugan—home to one of the city’s water sources.
For families there, access to water is no longer a daily struggle. Women and children spend less time hauling water, households face lower risks of waterborne disease, and small businesses thrive with a steady supply. Project Blue demonstrates that water projects are not just about infrastructure—they are about dignity, health, and opportunity.
Iloilo’s turn: Building on a proven model
Iloilo City is now gearing up for its own breakthrough: the P5-billion Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project. Designed to deliver 86 million liters of treated bulk water per day, it will draw from raw water sources, process it in state-of-the-art treatment facilities, and distribute it to city off-takers.
The project is expected to bring the same ripple effects as in Davao—reliable water supply, improved quality of life, stronger economic growth, and new opportunities for local communities.
By working with stakeholders to keep production costs low and rates fair, AIC aims to ensure that Iloilo’s water future is both sustainable and inclusive.
From Davao to Iloilo, one thing is clear: when water flows, progress follows.
