Balilihan Mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto has released a statement on Facebook, saying the local government unit (LGU) of Balilihan will not sue Richli Water, and that there are no pending complaints against them.
However, she clarified that the people of Balilihan are against private monopoly after Richli blocked the LGU’s water permit application and filed cases with the Ombudsman, Fiscal’s office, MCTC besides those they filed with the National Water Resources Board in Manila.
The mayor revealed that they won against Richli’s attempt to cancel LGU’s water permit application.
The NWRB unanimously favored LGU Balilihan’s Water Permit – supported by DENR, DOJ, DOST, NEDA and UP Hydrology Department, she said.
Because NWRB favored the LGU’s water permit in Bugwak Spring with a claimed 227.18 liters per second for consumers in Balilihan, the LGU continues their work on the Centralized Bulk Water Supply Project. Balilihan LGU has started Phase 2 of this project.
The mayor urged the public to help the LGU achieve the completion of the water project that would usher reliable water supply in Balilihan.
She clarified that the LGU would not stop Richli’s business entry into Balilihan.
But Mayor Pureza emphasized that they will not allow their water to be taken away from the people of Balilihan so that only a private company like Richli will supply the town.
She said no one should take away the consumer’s freedom to choose where they will connect water supply.
According to reports, Richli allegedly wants to monopolize the water supply in Balilihan, depriving the LGU to establish its own government-run waterworks system.