Residents raised concerns over the possible scarcity of water for agriculture and other needs should the proposed Negros Bulk Water Project at the Malogo River in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, be implemented.
The concerns were raised by stakeholders at a public hearing conducted by the Environmental Management Bureau E.B. Magalona on Wednesday, EMB Regional Director Vicente Losbañes said on Thursday, May 21.
The Negros Occidental provincial government has applied to source 16 million liters of water per day from the Malogo River for the bulk water project, he said.
The provincial government’s study shows that there will be no water shortage caused by the project, Losbañes added.
The position of the public on the project will be the position of the local government of E.B. Magalona, Vice Mayor Marvin Malacon said.
There were many questions from the public at the hearing that went unanswered, he said.
“They need to send people who can answer the questions of the people, they sent technical people on Wednesday,” he said.
It would be best to have a second public hearing at the E.B. Magalona public plaza, Malacon added.
He said he understands that the project will help the people, but the concerns of the residents must be addressed.
The public hearing is part of the requirements for the provincial government to obtain an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the project, Losbañes said.
The issues and concerns raised by stakeholders broadly revolved around environmental protection, water resource management, and the project’s potential socioeconomic impacts on the host community and adjacent areas, he said.
Questions were directed at the ecological implications of water extraction on the river system, the surrounding watershed, biodiversity, and the agricultural sector, as well as the legal and institutional aspects of water rights allocation, he added.
Governance and transparency concerns were also prominently raised, including the formal agreement between the host barangay and the proponent regarding community benefits, the project’s distribution arrangements, and its long-term financial sustainability, he said.
One LGU formally registered strong reservations and requested a separate public consultation for its constituents, Losbañes said.
The proponent responded to the concerns raised by presenting technical and documentary evidence drawn from the Environmental Impact Statement and supporting studies, which addressed the ecological, hydrological, and operational aspects of the project, he said.
On governance and institutional matters, the proponent clarified the legal framework, distribution arrangements, and the government nature of the project.
Community benefit concerns were addressed by citing potential local infrastructure improvements and commitments to responsible construction practices, Losbañes said.*
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