The public consultation on the Negros Bulk Water Supply project in Silay City comes at a critical moment – not just for the project, but for how development is pursued across the island of Negros.
At stake is more than a P1.2 billion investment spearheaded by the provincial government. It is a test of whether progress can be achieved without sidelining environmental protections and local voices.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson’s persistence to see the project through reflects a legitimate concern: the growing demand for reliable water supply. The project promises to address long-term needs, particularly as urban centers expand. Water security is undeniably a pressing issue that requires decisive action.
On the other hand, the refusal of the Silay City Council to grant a Resolution of No Objection cannot simply be brushed aside as a temporary setback. Their concerns – environmental risks, potential water shortages for residents and farmers, and unclear implementation plans – are not trivial, and have obviously not been properly addressed by the proponents.
That is what makes the consultation by the DENR-EMB important. It must not be treated as a procedural formality, but as a genuine venue for transparency and accountability. Scientific assessments, environmental safeguards, and technical plans should be clearly communicated, scrutinized, and, if necessary, revised.
Development projects of this scale cannot succeed on optimism, promises, or threats of future shortages alone. They require the informed consent and confidence of affected communities. If the concerns raised by stakeholders in Silay, where the rivers are located, are valid, then providing them with additional information, assurances, or necessary adjustments to the project, must be seriously considered.
Negrenses do not have to choose between development and sustainability. We must insist on both. The path forward lies not in pushing through resistance, but in building consensus grounded in evidence, respect, and shared responsibility.*
