A REPRESENTATIVE from the Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. (AAII) Thursday said that Tamugan Village already issued no objection on the water extraction rights that the company needs in order to push for the development of the Tamugan Bulk Water Project.
Cerilo Almario III, representative of the AAII Thursday, September 28, said during the 18th City Council that the no objection was issued by Tamugan Village a week before the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) conducted a hearing for the opposition manifested by the same village for the assignment of water rights from Davao City Water District (DCWD) to AAII for the project.
"NWRB accommodated their request so it was held last August 17, however, a week before that, Barangay Tamugan has already issued a resolution of no objection to the project of AAII. This was submitted by AAII to the NWRB on the same date it submitted to Councilor Elias Lopez, although it was submitted a week before the hearing was still conducted," he said.
Almario said that no representatives from Tamugan Village appeared during the hearing so the NWRB told AAII that since there is already a no objection resolution provided by Tamugan. Since they did not attend the hearing, it is clear that the village is withdrawing their position and not interested in pursuing their opposition.
"The NWRB will be providing us with the approved joint petition of the water permit assignment of DCWD to Apo Agua," Almario said.
He said that AAII submitted three sets of document requirement to the NWRB last August 21 and it will take 30 days to process and have the resolution signed.
"We are expecting to receive it before the end of this month," he said.
Almario added the documents will show that the agency is already considering that the protest of Tamugan Village has already been withdrawn.
During the council session Thursday, Councilor Lopez said the committee received the No Objection Resolution from Barangay Tamugan last August 11.
"The Barangay Tamugan's protest before the national water resources regulation board should now be considered abandoned in view of the resolution of no objection presented before the committee. With that in mind, this settles the issue about the protest or the issue of the body protest to the national water resources board. This committee finds the Apo Agua has sufficiently complied with all the requirements required in the comprehensive local zoning ordinance of the city," Lopez said.
Lopez, in a past interview, said that they are waiting for the NWRB decision to approve the joint resolution of the City Development Council and Local Zoning Board on Adjustments and Appeals relative to the application of AAII for "Allowable Use" for the establishment of Water Treatment Facility as a component of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project in Barangay Gumalang, Baguio District, Davao City.
Majority Floor Leader Bernard Al-ag said that the City Council will approve the item as soon as possible. Since changes or amendments pertaining to Local Zoning Ordinance, need 3/4 votes or approval of 21 councilors, and with only 19 councilors present Thursday, the item was not passed on second reading and once again deferred to the next session. (KVC)