• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Residents of Pueblo Rosario Village, Eroreco Subdivision, and neighboring puroks in Barangay Mandalagan have also sought assistance from the Bacolod City government on the lack of water supply in their area.
“It had been months that we experienced minimal water supply or no water at all, day in and day out. Worst, we endured sleepless nights just to wait for water to flow out our faucets but, as always, to no avail,” the letter-request, signed by more than 70 residents, and tackled during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod March 6, stressed.
The residents claimed that the Bacolod City Water District-PrimeWater has been negligent in addressing this problem, hence their appeal for intervention from the city.
“We come to you for help in achieving our aspiration to have better water service from Baciwa-PimeWater. Water is a major essential for humanity, this affects our health and sanitation,” they added.
Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella, chairperson of the sanggunian Committee on Energy and Public Utilities, in response, pushed for a resolution approved by the SP, endorsing the residents’ letter to Baciwa-PrimeWater.
Puentevella also said the water utility should inform the SP of actions done on the residents’ concern.
In January, more than 600 residents of Barangay Handumanan also signed a petition urging the Baciwa-PrimeWater management to ensure the continuous supply of potable water in their community.
“Nagabayad kami sang intsakto sa mahal nga tubig, pero daw sa wala klaro ang ginahatag nga serbisyo para sa amon,” the residents from 13 puroks of the barangay told the SP. “Kabay nga ini nga petisyon mangin rason sang inyo pag-giho nga mauntat ang pag-antos sang pumuluyo”.
Punong barangay Ma. Febe Legaspi also said “a certain number of pumping stations are located here in Handumanan but the people of the barangay have been experiencing shortage and scarcity of water supply… (and) do not get the service they deserve.”
Engr. John Arlan Canatoy, head of PrimeWater Maintenance, in his letter-reply, said that Handumanan and its neighboring barangays were identified as problematic, in terms of water availability and pressure.
“The main reason why it has dropped since the activation of the wells located in your barangay is because more than 50 percent of the capacity of the wells also dropped. (But) we are in the process of supply augmentation in your area,” Canatoy added.
He said that with the help of Mayor Alfredo Benitez, PrimeWater is also looking for another bulk water supplier that will augment the current water supply from the east portion of the service area.
“For year 2026 and as part of our long-term solution, our bulk water supply partner Northern Negros H20 Inc. will activate a new water treatment plant and will augment 50 million liters per day (MLD) of water into our system and Handumanan is also one of its direct beneficiaries,” Canatoy said. | CGC
