by Donald Sevilla
THE BUGWAK SPRING CONTROVERSY
Come to think of it. What really is the root cause of all
the water fuss between these parties? All water
resources belong to the state and shouldn’t be owned
by anyone. What is essentially granted when given a
permit from the NWRB is a ŕight to utilize such
resource, to develop it for beneficial use. Take note it
is not a “title of ownership”.
Hence to think of water as though it were one’s
property, exercising dominant control over it is setting
a dangerous precedent. Who owns BUGWAK
SPRING?
The state does and as such, all others who intend to
utilize it have to apply for a permit from the state-
regulating agency tasked to oversee such matters
which is the NWRB.
But who is the state? It is the people of the
Philippines, you and I organized into one political
governing body, the Republic of the Philippines. As
such we are all entitled to avail, to benefit from its use
as water is a basic resource essential to life.
Should it be controlled by any one entity to the
exclusion of others? NO.
BUGWAK Spring and the river upon which it flows
should have plenty of water for everyone. The spring
is estimated to discharge a volume of 4,500 liters per
second. From news reports gathered, LGU Balilihan
has applied to extract water and was granted 227
liters/ second extraction by the NWRB.
But RICHLI WATERS, a private entity engaged in the
water business has applied and was granted a permit
to extract a volume of 990 liters/ second based on
reports. It was gathered that they even intended to
apply for 4,230 liters/second, a bulk of the spring’s
output for their purposes.
What about LGU SEVILLA, another party involved in
this controversy? We don’t have data gathered as of
this writing but suffice it to say whether they have
secured a permit or not, there should be plenty of
water flowing for everyone. So, why the fuss?
WATER as a free, God-given resource, ideally should
not be utilized for business but government’s lack of
funds and capacity to develop it makes it impossible
to achieve. This leaves a huge gap which the private
sector readily fills in but is not fail-safe from the
economic consequences brought upon by business.
We all know what would happen next and we have to
literally pay a price for this service in private hands.
Yet given the scenarios on the ground, water should
not be primarily made a business to profit from but a
basic service provided by government for its citizens.
And so, efforts made by LGUs to achieve this should
be given priority over and above those that engage in
it for profit.
This said, we are saddened why local government
entities both tasked to provide its people with basic
services should be at odds with each other over water
to the detriment of public welfare.
What is happening on the ground is worrisome and
reflects upon the leadership and governance in our
province. It makes us the laughing stock of our
neighbors by reinforcing the Boholano trait of “ija-ija,
aho-aho” that makes us the butt of jokes.
With our two LGUs squabbling over BUGWAK Spring
who gets to benefit from this standoff? Like a hungry
predator waiting to pounce on its prey, a private water
business entity is awaiting in the sidelines for its
outcome.
We just hope the brazen act by LGU SEVILLA of
dismantling structures and taking out pipes laid out by
LGU BALILIHAN for its waterworks project because of
a lack of building permit is not motivated and
instigated by a third party interest. Yet, when two
entities mandated to look after the people’s welfare,
clash in the name of the greater good, we can’t help
but pry deeper into the matter.
Without taking sides what is happening is both
deplorable and pathetic. Regardless of all the
legalities and formalities attendant to it, water should
be for everyone!