Balilihan mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto is setting straight the records in relation to the conditional water permit (CWP) issued by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).
The mayor explained in a post on July 26, 2022 that the NWRB cancelled the town’s CWP because of an error on the diversion point. The diversion point placed in the water permit application (WPA) of Balilihan is in barangay Sto. Niño, which is located also in Balilihan.
On the other hand, the NWRB determined the correct diversion point of Bugwak Spring which is located at barangay Magsaysay, Sevilla.
Mayor Chatto in an earlier interview said the town placed barangay Sto. Niño in its WPA as the diversion point after getting the said information from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
She said that the town may re-file its WPA based on the correct diversion point.
However, the local government unit (LGU) of Balilihan received a letter from the NWRB’s Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. saying the town’s CWP “remains as such” based on a letter dated June 23, 2022.
“Buut sabton nga valid pa ang atong CWP sa Balilihan. Alang sa kasayuran sa tanan, kun mugamit ta sa tubig (underground, suba, tubod, dagat, etc), mananghid gayud kita sa NWRB – ang ahencia nga gitahasan pag regulate sa pag gamit sa tubig sa kina iyahan,” the mayor explained in her Facebook post.
Furthermore, the mayor quipped that those given with CWP from the NWRB are given a year to develop their water projects, after which the CWP holder
may apply for a permanent water permit or a Water Right.
“Kun wala ugmara ang panubig, mu expire gayud after one year ang CWP,” the mayor said in her post.
The mayor said that Balilihan’s CWP did not expire as the LGU was able to submit an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
“Sukad sa pag submit sa mga requirements for the Water Right, wala kitay nadawat nga sulat gikan sa NWRB nga unta nagpahibaw kun duna pa’y kulang sa mga dokumento,” she said.
At this juncture, Mayor Chatto urged the Balilihan residents to pray with her so that the town’s water project will finally be realized.
“Katawhan sa Balilihan ang ilang gihikawan! We continue to fight for our people!” she exclaimed.