By Victor L. Tambis
Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. (BWUI) and Barangay
Lourdes, Cortes have signed an amended Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA) for water extraction in the said
barangay.
The amendment includes the inclusion of ground water
in the water extraction, in addition to the original MOA of
surface water within Barangay Lourdes.
During the signing ceremony held at Bohol Tropics on
June 28, Punong Barangay Macario Ongyot Jr. of
Lourdes stated that “water is a natural resource that
must be shared to all.”
Bohol Water Director added that “Bohol Water is not
purely a private entity, but partly public and imbued with
public interest considering that the Provincial
government has a stake on it.”
BWUI General Manager Marnellie Bautista also pointed
out that “the partnership with Barangay Lourdes
provides hope to all Boholanos because we provide
water to the heart of Bohol – Tagbilaran City – the center
of trade and development.”
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) granted
three Permit To Drill (PTD) to Bohol Water Utilities, Inc.,
which will expire on November 12, 2023.
These PTDs are located in Barangay Lourdes,
specifically at BWUI lots near Ohan Spring area.
Bohol Water has a long-term plan to develop Ohan
Spring and has acquired lots containing a total area of
5,000 square meters intended for the water treatment
facilities at Ohan Spring area at Barangay Lourdes.
Site development for the treatment plant has been
completed, as well as the construction of access road to
the proposed plant site from the public road.
Transmission mains have also been laid out from the
plant site in Barangay Lourdes going to Tagbilaran area.
However, all preparations were temporarily suspended
due to legal disputes over the right of way to Ohan
Spring.
While waiting for the resolution of these legal disputes,
Bohol Water had no other option but to look for other
alternatives through deep well/ground water.
The amended MOA with Barangay Lourdes is a
requisite to Bohol Water’s proposal to the Municipality of
Cortes for the negotiation execution of MOA for water
extraction through underground water/deep well.