By CESAR JOLITO III
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is appealing to the Silay City government to reconsider their opposition to the proposed P1.1 billion bulk water supply project, stressing the initiative is designed to ensure long-term water security for the city and neighboring localities.
“Silay could be the biggest beneficiary of this project. We are offering them the chance to identify how much water they need daily, and we will provide it from what we can harvest,” Lacson said over the weekend.
Lacson emphasized that the province prefers collaboration with Silay City over confrontation.
“We want Silay to be part of this plan. But as it stands, without their cooperation, the most feasible site cannot be developed,” he explained.
The governor noted that the bulk water supply project seeks to tap only about six percent of Silay City’s estimated river capacity.
He said that, while current supply may be sufficient, the project is about preparing for future demand.
“Right now, they are happy with their water supply. But we are not just thinking of today — we are thinking of the future,” Lacson said.
He said the provincial government is willing to continue dialogue and may even enlist Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez to mediate discussions.
“We have not given up hope. We will keep trying to convince them, because at the end of the day, this is about securing the future of our communities,” Lacson said.
Earlier, Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego remained firm in refusing to issue a Resolution of No Objection (RONO), a key requirement for the project to proceed.
Gallego argued that diverting water from the rivers in Silay could endanger the supply needed by residents and farmers from the Imbang River, citing the El Niño phenomenon in 2024 when water levels dropped and affected local communities.
He said some groups of local farmers were 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.
Without Silay’s RONO, the project couldn’t move forward since no permits or land reclassification could be issued.
The proposed bulk water project, which would primarily benefit the Negros Occidental cities of Silay and Talisay, as well as capital Bacolod City, aims to stabilize water distribution for households and support economic growth.
Earlier, the provincial government would finance its P1.1-billion bulk water supply project using its own savings, abandoning the public-private partnership scheme after negotiations collapsed over high water tariffs.
The project aims to address ongoing potable water shortages in Negros Occidental by developing surface water sources from the Imbang and Malogo Rivers, reducing reliance on rapidly depleting groundwater resources./CJ, WDJ