ANOTHER criminal case was filed against Baguio City Representative Nicasio Aliping Jr.
This time for the destruction of the Amliang water sources of Baguio Water District caused by the road construction in Mt. Kabuyao, Sto. Tomas.
BWD general manager Engr. Salvador Royeca told Sun.Star Baguio the case was filed on June 26, Thursday, with the Pollution Adjudication Board in Manila immediately after receiving the endorsement of the Environmental Management Bureau June 24.
Aside from the lawmaker, the case involved contractors of the road construction project, Goldrich Construction, RUA construction and BLC Construction and Aggregates.
Royeca refused to give further statements about the case filed as they are still waiting for the order to be served by the PAB.
However, he said BWD is still in the process of computing the cost of damages of water sources in Kabuyao.
Upon completion of the report, a civil case will be filed against Aliping and the contractors.
Assistant manager Ma. Luisa Tenedero earlier said the cost of damages will include the opportunity cost the water district incurs and the cost of rehabilitation of Amliang Springs 1, 2, and 3 which are no longer in use because earth activities already covered it with debris.
Furthermore, BWD is still waiting for mitigation measures to be performed by Aliping and the contractors to prevent further earth movements in the area, which might also cause destruction of the Stage 1 Dam 3 water source at Camp 6, Tuba, Benguet.
Aliping and the three contractors are currently facing other criminal charges for violations of the Philippine Forestry Code filed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
An administrative charge also awaits the group under the EMB for their failure to comply with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process as required by the PD 1586 or the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System.
The case was based on the Clean Water Act of 2004.