Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego said on Friday, August 15, that he is still not in favor of granting a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) to the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project, which would allow it to draw water from Silay’s rivers.
He said that drawing water from the rivers of Silay would endanger the supply needed by the city’s residents and farmers.
When the province was hit by the El Niño phenomenon, the water in Silay’s rivers dropped and affected its residents, he said.
Fire trucks had to then ration water to Silaynons, Gallego pointed out.
A RONO is an official document that indicates a local government’s approval and support for a specific project or activity within its jurisdiction.
The Negros Occidental provincial government is fully funding a P1.1 billion bulk water project to deliver potable water to Negrenses at cheaper rates, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Tuesday, August 12.
The first phase involves constructing the intake point and the bulk water treatment facility on a 1-hectare property in Barangay Guimbalaon, Silay City, that the provincial government has already purchased, Diaz said.
If everything goes smoothly, the bidding for Phase 1 will be held in early October. Phase 2, which involves the installation of conveyance pipes, will be implemented next year, he said.
The first priority beneficiaries of the bulk water project will be Silay and Talisay cities, Diaz said.
Diaz said the provincial government will continue to try to convince the Silay City officials of the importance of the project, as it will provide Silay residents cheap potable water.*
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