• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Top officials of Bacolod City welcomed the establishment of the Sum-ag Water Treatment Plant, saying it will improve access to clean and reliable water for its concessionaires.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led on Monday, Jan. 19, the inspection of the water treatment facility in Barangay Salvacion, Murcia, which has the capacity to deliver up to 75 million liters of potable water per day, and to benefit about 100,000 households or half a million residents.
Thousands of water concessionaries in Bacolod City are pinning their hopes on the water treatment facility, considered as the largest water treatment facility in Negros Island Region, to address their complaints on shortage of potable water especially during dry season.
Marking the inauguration of Sum-ag Water Treatment Plant and Caliban Water Facility as an important milestone, Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said it is a major step forward in strengthening Bacolod’s long- term water security.
Benitez said the water treatment facility will address 50 percent of the Bacolod City residents’ water needs, noting also that 55 percent of potable water needed by residents comes from deep wells.
“This is neither sustainable nor reliable in the long term. Over-extraction stresses our groundwater, increases operating costs, and exposes us to shortages during peak demand,” the lawmaker said. “Our plan is to gradually retire these deep wells as primary sources and convert them into strategic water reserves”.
He said this will allow the city to activate them only when needed – especially during summer months – bridging temporary shortages without passing additional costs on to consumers.
“In this way, we protect our groundwater, stabilize supply, and keep water affordable for our people,” Benitez said. “That gives us stability, resilience, and better cost management as our city continues to grow. Water security today is no longer just about infrastructure. It is about resilience in the face of climate change, population growth, and urban expansion.”
Gasataya hailed the establishment of the water treatment facility, adding that Bacolod City will now have a steady supply of water. | GB
