BACOLOD City Councilor Ricardo Tan is planning to invite the officials of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and the Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI) to shed light on the cease and desist order issued by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) prohibiting Baciwa and BBWI from drawing water at Ngalan River for lack of permit.

Being a member of the Provincial Board, these plans need to have an approved resolution from the City Council, he said. But ON July 11, he was made to serve as the acting presiding officer being the number one councilor of Bacolod.

But because of his limitation to vote on his proposed resolution and clearly, he could not get the needed number to get his proposed resolution approved by the body, he deferred its inclusion in the discussion and plans to re-file it today, he said.

He pointed out that the people of Bacolod were informed that Baciwa and BBWI have entered into an agreement for BBWI to supply Baciwa seven million liters to 22 million liters per day for the consumption of the residents.

But Baciwa did not inform the people of Bacolod City that BBWI will be drawing water from Ngalan River, he said.

BBWI has constructed its reservoir near Ngalan River and immediately started drawing millions of liters of water from the said source without applying for a permit from NWRB, he said.

It was subsequently discovered by the NWRB that BBWI did not apply for a water permit, but simply took the convenience of “leasing” the Water Permit of Baciwa over Ngalan River with prior authority from NWRB, an act which is prohibited by law.

With the order of NWRB against Baciwa and BBWI, are no longer allowed to draw water from Ngalan River, this will effectively reduce the water supply to Bacolod at a volume of 22 million liters per day and will affect 53,000 consumers, Tan said.

The situation will bring about the threats of the water crisis in Bacolod City, if not attended promptly.