• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Silay City Vice Mayor Thomas Maynard Ledesma said yesterday that the City Council will hold committee hearings on the proposed P1.2-billion bulk water supply project of the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
This came as the council members were not satisfied with the explanations of the representatives of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the province on the proposed project during the regular session held on Monday.
Their presentations were not comprehensive and inconsistent, Ledesma said.
The provincial government is seeking a resolution of no objection (RONO) from the city government to proceed with the project, which will utilize unsubscribed surface water of Imbang River that passes through several barangays in Silay.
Ledesma said that the proponents could not answer when the study was done, and how much volume of water will be used, noting that the Silaynons are now experiencing low water supply because of El Niño phenomenon.
He again clarified that they are not opposing the project, but only want clarifications.
The local government units of E.B. Magalona, Manapla, Victorias, Talisay and Bacolod have already issued RONOs for the project.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II earlier stressed that “no LGU owns water”, adding that “Water should be above politics, it is a basic need and basic right of every Silaynon and Negrosanon,” Diaz said.
Ledesma, who debunked claims that politics is involved in the supposed opposition to the bulk water supply project, said that it will be the Committees on Environment and Barangay Affairs that will hold a joint committee hearing, which will be participated by all barangay captains of Silay City, among others.
The Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project aims to address the increasing water demand in the province through the development of a bulk water supply system, which will have a minimum capacity of 34.5 million liters per day. | GB
