The barangay chief of Tagustusan, Balilihan poured her sentiments regarding the challenges faced by the town’s centralized bulk water project, which is something the residents need badly considering the scarce water supply.
Marilyn Bugahud, the village chief of Tagustusan, Balilihan, gave her opinion on the state of the water supply project in the town in a radio interview over Newsmakers ug Uban Pa on Aug. 10, 2022 hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado.
Bugahud said that the village residents are struggling as they don’t have reliable water supply and hope that the town’s centralized bulk water supply system will finally bring much needed water to all residents of the town, not just in Tagustusan.
She said that the barangay’s leading problem is the water supply which could be solved by the town’s water project.
“Problema gyud namo adto [Tagustusan] is amoang panubig,” she said in the interview.
She said that the challenges faced by the water project of the town delayed the delivery of much needed water supply to the residents.
Bugahud pointed out the petitions filed by a private investor which allegedly is causing delays in the full implementation of the project – a project which seeks to bring water to all of the town’s 31 barangays.
She added that if only there are no challenges coming from an alleged private investor, the town could be on its way of reaping the benefits of having a reliable water supply.
“Kung wala pa ang mga babag, human na unta ang among panubig sa lungsod sa Balilihan,” she said.
The village chief narrated that her constituents expressed frustration over the continued delay in the implementation of the water project considering water supply is scarce in Tagustusan.
“Usa pod sila [Tagustusan residents] sa mga nadismaya sa maong proyekto nga wala mahuman tungod kay naay sige ug babag nga para lang malangan ang proyekto sa lungsod sa Balilihan,” she said during the radio interview.
The village chief said that the leadership of Mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto has been working hard to ensure that the water project gets fully implemented to benefit the people.
Moreover, the village chief said that she personally wants the local government unit to manage the water supply as the pricing can be controlled and any movement of the prices of the service fees shall be subjected to a public hearing before full implementation.
“Lahi ang private, speaking of balayronon sa matag kubiko sa panubig, so maka assure ta ug ari ta sa panggobyerno ubos ubos gyud ang atong bayronon. Usa musaka ang balayronon sa per cubic ug ari ta sa panggobyerno, muagi man nâ ug kanang public hearing, so dili basta basta pod na musaka,” she explained.