The P1.1 billion Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project, which aims to provide residents with affordable potable water, is on hold.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Saturday, August 16, that the project cannot proceed without the approval of the Silay City government.
“It is on hold…it may not push through if the Silay City government does not agree to it,” Lacson said.
“Most likely it will not push through because our water source is in Silay, which is the closest to Talisay and Bacolod”, he added.
Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego confirmed on Friday that he is not in favor of granting a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) for the project, which would permit it to draw water from the city’s rivers.
He said that taking water from Silay’s rivers would endanger the supply needed by the city’s residents and farmers.
Lacson said the provincial government has not given up hope and is trying to reach out to Silay, which he believes would be the biggest beneficiary of the project.
“We are even offering Silay to tell us how much water they need on a daily basis and then we will provide them from whatever we can harvest,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the administration of Silay feels that it’s not worth it”, he added.
Lacson said that t while they will continue to try and convince Silay, there will come a time when they must decide whether to proceed.
“As much as possible, we don’t want to be confrontational,” Lacson said. “We want them to join the plan for this purpose. We want them to be part of the group to pursue this project.”
Lacson said Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz personally explained the project to Gallego, but the mayor was “very adamant.” Gallego has refused to provide a go-ahead, a RONO, or a building permit for the one-hectare provincial government property”.
The first phase of the project involves constructing the intake point and a bulk water treatment facility on a one-hectare property in Barangay Guimbalaon, Silay City. The provincial government has already purchased the land.
Lacson said the area is being pursued because it is the most feasible location for the project.
Silay’s river has a capacity of 400 million liters per day, the project is only asking for 24–26 million liters per day (MLD), the governor also said.
When asked if the mayor’s stance was politically motivated, Lacson said he was not “imputing any malice.”
“Maybe that’s really his personal stand that it will not help Silay anyway…they are happy with their water supply right now, but we are not thinking of now, we’re thinking of the future,” he added.
Diaz echoed this sentiment, warning of a looming water crisis. “Scientists are telling us that fresh water is going to be a very, very scarce resource in the future,” he said, emphasizing the need for the province to be ready and resilient.
The bulk water project would tap surface water, thus conserving increasingly scarce groundwater.
Lacson also said he may seek the help of Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) to try and convince the Silay officials to support the project.*
[sibwp_form id=1]