Mayor Joedith Gallego said on Monday, May 4, that the opposition of Silay City residents toward the Negros Bulk Water Project’s plan to tap water from the Imbang-Hinalinan River in Brgy. Guimbalaon remains unchanged.
Gallego said that the stand of the Guimbalaon residents has stayed the same despite a public consultation conducted by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) regarding the project on April 27.
The residents continue to express deep concerns that the project will lead to a scarcity of water from the river.
Gallego noted that it is unlikely the city government will grant the project a zoning clearance, considering the position of the residents in the area.
He said they would be more likely agree to the Negros Bulk Water Project if it tapped its water from the Malogo River instead of the Imbang-Hinalinan River.
Vicente Losbañes, Director of the EMB Negros Island Region, explained that if the Negros Occidental provincial government complies with all necessary requirements, they can be granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the project.
Losbañes said the provincial government needs to complete the documents required by the EMB, which include a zoning clearance from the Silay City government and a water permit from the National Water Resources Board, before an ECC can be issued.*
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