• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Citing strong opposition from stakeholders, its environmental impact, insufficient clarity on project implementation and lack of inter-agency technical alignment, the proposed P1.2 billion Bulk Water Project of the Negros Occidental provincial government was rejected by Silay City.
The Silay Sangguniang Panlungsod disapproved the request of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to grant the provincial government a Resolution Of No Objection (RONO) for the proposed bulk water project located at the Hinalinan River/Imbang River in Barangay Guimbalaon, Silay City.
“We respect their decision, we will abide by it,” the governor said in response to the denial of the RONO they had requested from the Silay City government.
Stressing that they will no longer ask for reconsideration, Lacson said “we will just outright stop the project, as far as the source of water is concerned, which is the Hinalinan River/Imbang River.”
“No hard feelings, maybe they feel that it will be to their disadvantage. We will respect that”, the governor said, although they had explained in a series of dialogues that Silay will benefit most from the project.
The Hinalinan River/Imbang River was chosen as the venue for the project upon the recommendation of the consultants engaged by the Asian Development Bank and United States Agency for International Development, according to the provincial government.
A resolution, which was unanimously approved by the Silay City Council during its regular session on February 9, however clarified that the disapproval of the requested RONO is without prejudice to the application of a similar request from other river systems within the jurisdiction of Silay.
Vice Mayor Tom Ledesma, the SP City Council presiding officer, disclosed that Mayor Joedith Gallego is open for a different location, especially the Malogo River, which is shared by Silay City and E.B. Magalona.
As to the suggestion of Mayor Gallego that Malogo River will be tapped as the source of water for the project, Lacson said they will sit down and discuss it.
But there are reports that Malogo River belongs to E.B. Magalona, and not of Silay.
Lacson also entertained the idea of continuing the project on a “smaller scale,” referring to the number of local government units to benefit from it.
If Malogo River is chosen, Ledesma said he believes that the requested RONO will be granted.*
