Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Silay City government will have to decide if they are with the provincial government in providing potable water for their constituents.

Lacson made the response after the Silay Sangguniang Panlungsod reportedly did not pass a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) requested by the provincial government for its P1.2 billion bulk water supply project.

The governor said he would not speculate if the act of the city council is “political in nature.”

The municipal and city councils in Bacolod City, Victorias City, Talisay City, E.B. Magalona, and Manapla have already passed their respective RONOs.

Earlier, Lacson said the provincial government’s bulk water supply project would proceed amid opposition from several groups over the proposal to tap the Malogo River in Silay as a water source.

“We will do everything possible to make it happen. We cannot depend on underground water anymore. That’s why let us make use of our surface water, and these two rivers are really good sources,” Lacson said.

The Malogo River, as well as the Imbang River in Talisay City, have been identified as potential sources of water for the P1.2 billion bulk water supply project.

Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego earlier said that some groups of local farmers in the locality expressed their opposition to the provincial government’s plan of tapping the Malogo River as a source for the bulk water supply project.

Gallego said the group is not in favor of utilizing the river, citing concerns that it may affect their water supply needs.

“We cannot compromise the interests of our local planters and farmers who rely on these rivers for their livelihood,” Gallego said.

“We need to prioritize their needs and ensure that their water supply is not affected by this project,” he added./WDJ