The issue related to the Bugwak Spring has entered into new chapters, with each chapter getting more interesting.
After the chance meeting of Balilihan mayor Pureza Chatto and Richli Water chairman Richard Lim on Nov. 27, 2021, the issue turned into a whole new twist. On Dec. 2, 2021, the NWRB team from the National Water Resources Board led by Special Investigator Engr. Roy Requerme, conducted an ocular inspection on the site related to the petition of Richli Water to cancel the conditional water permit of local government unit (LGU) Balilihan. The NWRB already dismissed Richli Water’s petition, but the latter filed a motion for reconsideration.
On Dec. 4, 2021, Lim called a press conference and explained the side of the water development company and reiteratedthat this issue could be settled if only the LGU will enter into a memorandum of agreement with the company. The company will allow the LGU pipes to pass through the private property of the company as long as the water extracted from Bugwak Spring is solely for the consumption of the town residents. But LGU Balilihan is firm and steadfast in its stand that whatever it is doing is within the law and supported by documents. Photos in this page capture some of the events that took place anent the Bugwak Spring issue.