by Ardy Araneta-Batoy
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has
demanded that the Municipality of Sevilla restore the water
intake structures, submersible pumps and electrical cables that
were dismantled from Bugwak Spring last week.
DPWH said the structures and equipment are part of the
Balilihan Water Supply System Phase 1 project, which was
completed and paid for by people’s taxes.
In a letter to Dano, District Engineer John Paul Gascon said the
project was supposed to provide water for the residents of
Balilihan, but it has yet to be turned over to the end-user.
DPWH said the structures and equipment were illegally
dismantled by the Municipality of Sevilla on June 2, 2023.
The agency said the dismantling was done without its
knowledge or consent.
DPWH is now demanding that the Municipality of Sevilla
restore the structures and equipment to their original condition
within 30 days.
If the Municipality of Sevilla fails to comply, Gascon said,
DPWH will file the necessary legal actions.
LGU Sevilla has not yet responded to DPWH’s demand.
The dismantling of the water supply system has raised
concerns about the water supply in Balilihan.
LGU Balilihan has said that it is working to find a solution to the
problem.
Conflict over Bugwak Spring
The long-running tug-of-war between two local governments in
Bohol over the ownership and use of Bugwak Spring escalated
last week.
The spring is located in Sevilla town, but water pumps and
pipes have been constructed by the municipal government of
Balilihan at the site.
The root of the issue can be traced from erroneous
coordinates.
Records at the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) show
that the National Irrigation Administration provided wrong area
coordinates, which resulted in claims that the spring is located
in Barangay Sto. Niño in Balilihan instead of Barangay
Magsaysay in Sevilla.
Sevilla is claiming ownership over Bugwak Spring while its
neighboring town Balilihan has already appropriated the water
resource for its own use.
The municipal council of Sevilla has adopted a resolution
saying that Balilihan town officials and their representatives
“clandestinely” built a water pumping station in Bugwak Spring
without the consent and approval of LGU Sevilla.
The NWRB has ordered Balilihan to submit its reply to Sevilla’s
petition, which the LGU filed as early as June 2022.
MEETING
A make-or-break meeting was initiated by Balilihan Mayor
Pureza Chatto with Sevilla Mayor Juliet Dano to try to resolve
their differences over the utilization of Bugwak Spring as the
main source of water for Balilihan residents.
However, the meeting apparently failed to settle the location of
Bugwak Spring.
NWRB has ordered Balilihan to submit its reply to Sevilla’s
petition. The resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by
Balilihan before the NWRB is keenly awaited by both parties –
Balilihan and Richli Corporation – with the NWRB still uncertain
when the board will come up with a decision on the water
conflict.
Local authorities in Sevilla town led by Dano have removed the
water supply system “illegally” constructed to extract water from
Bugwak Spring in their jurisdiction.
Sevilla Mayor Dano said the local government unit removed the
water supply system after the Sangguniang Bayan issued a
resolution heeding the call of residents to remove the pipes and
other structures established at Bugwak Spring.
NOT RESOLVED
Reports said Dano was assessing the gravity of her initial
decision to defend the territorial integrity of Sevilla by seeking
the removal of structures erected by Balilihan without the
permission of the LGU.
The removal of these structures has cut off the water supply of
Balilihan.
NETIZENS AND RESIDENTS REACT
Bohol Governor Criticized for Silence Over Balilihan-Sevilla
Water Supply Conflict
Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado has been criticized for his
silence and inaction over the conflict between the towns of
Balilihan and Sevilla over the Bugwak Spring water supply
project.
The project, which was started by the DPWH, is intended to
provide water to the municipality of Balilihan. However, the
project has been stalled due to a dispute between the two
towns over the ownership of the Bugwak Spring.
The disagreement worsened last week with LGU Sevilla led by
Mayor Dano dismantled water pipes and pumps in Bugwak
Spring cutting off water supply to Balilihan.
Aumentado has not commented on the conflict, and his office
has not issued an official statement.
The silence of the governor has been met with criticism from
residents of both Balilihan and Sevilla. They say that
Aumentado is abdicating his responsibility to resolve the
conflict and ensure that the water supply project is completed.
“The governor is supposed to be the leader of the province,”
said Rendams Damalerio in an FB comment. “He should be
doing everything he can to resolve this conflict and get the
water supply project back on track.”
“The governor is supposed to be our advocate,” said Sevilla
resident Carina Ocia. “But he’s not doing anything to help us.
It’s like he doesn’t care about us.”
The conflict between Balilihan and Sevilla over the Bugwak
Spring water supply project is a reminder of the challenges
facing Bohol’s water resources.
The province is prone to drought, and the demand for water is
increasing.
The conflict also highlights the need for better coordination
between the provincial government and local government units
on water resource management.
Aumentado has a responsibility to resolve the conflict between
Balilihan and Sevilla and ensure that the water supply project is
completed, reads a comment on Isboy Matibay’s post.
He (Aumentado) should do everything he can to mediate
between the two towns and find a solution that is fair to both
sides, the comment said.