BACOLOD City Water District general manager Juliana Carbon on Wednesday, September 5, told members of the Provincial Council of Bacolod that the water district has filed a motion for reconsideration before the National Water Resources Board that issued a cease and desist order prohibiting Baciwa and Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. from drawing water at Ngalan River for lack of permit.
Carbon said, “since we have already filed our motion for reconsideration on that, we will just wait for the decision. I cannot divulge on the merits of the case because as what chairman Lorendo Dilag has said, it would be a subjudice.”
He said that based on the order of the NWRB, the grounds were used were not applicable to our case.
This came after Councilor Ricardo Tan authored a resolution inviting Baciwa officials to shed light on the matter.
Tan wanted a clarification on the matter.
He pointed out 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, they 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, he said.
Meanwhile, Engineer Jenelyn Gemora, Baciwa assistant general manager for operation, said given the increasing infrastructure developments in the City of Bacolod, the water district needs to have additional bulk water suppliers aside from the existing bulk water project under the BBWI.
“Our supply and demand for water continue to increase. Aside from the Bulk Water, we need additional suppliers. For those who did not participate in the bidding, this is not yet the end of Baciwa bulk water projects because we need more water given the developments that are rising in Bacolod City. Our projection before came in advance. Our need is supposed to come in three years’ time, but it became imminent to add bulk water projects. But we still evaluate our needs. We have an ongoing negotiation with a local government and maybe next year, we can start adding another bulk water supplier/s,” Gemora said.
Further, Dilag, who was also present during their appearance at the City Council on Wednesday, September 5, posed a question as to how can Bacolod help the water district.
“Baciwa needs the support of the City Government especially in the council members considering that they have no problem with the Office of the City’s Chief Executive Mayor Evelio Leonardia. However, on the part of the Sanggunian, things there need to be improved and he hopes they can cooperate with each other,” he said.