Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga has strongly urged the Municipality of Sevilla to take immediate action to restore the damaged facility and to collaborate with national government agencies in the pursuit of sustainable water resources management in the province of Bohol.
In a letter dated November 10, 2023 addressed to Sevilla Municipal Mayor Juliet B. Dano, Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga emphasized that “it is our collective responsibility to ensure the prudent and equitable utilization of this vital resource for the benefit of all stakeholders.
The letter was DENR’s response to Resolution No. 2023-149 of the Sangguniang Bayan of Sevilla, Bohol requesting the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to inhibit the participation of Atty. Analiza Rebuelta – Teh, Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems, and Climate Change, in the ongoing investigation of the Petition lodged by LGU Sevilla against LGU Balilihan, which seeks to restrain the latter from extracting water from Bugwak Spring.
Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga wrote that “It is essential to emphasize that Bugwak Spring is a natural resource under the management of the State, represented by the DENR, which is duly mandated to regulate the use of water resources to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits for the welfare of present and future generations of Filipinos.”
On the request of LGU Sevilla to inhibit USEC Rebuelta-Teh, Loyzaga said that the undersecretary is serving as one of her alternate representatives and she has Secretary Loyzaga’s trust and confidence to impartially chair the NWRB as her alternate.
Secretary Loyzaga clarified that the NWRB is a collegial body comprised of representatives from various sectors involved in the administration and prudent utilization of the country’s water resources.
“The issues related to water rights concerning Bugwak Spring have been discussed with Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),” Loyzaga’s letter added.
Furthermore, Loyzaga in the same letter said that “we are deeply concerned about the unwarranted destruction of government-fund water infrastructure at Bugwak Spring, which appears to have been initiated by the Municipality of Sevilla. We are aware of serious allegations that these actions may have been influenced significantly by private sector interests, causing conflicts between local government units and national government agencies.”