The Negros Occidental provincial government is eyeing to serve 40,000 households in three local government units under the proposed Negros Bulk Water Supply Project (NBWSP) – Malogo River in E.B. Magalona town.

As of yesterday, details of the proposal are outlined in the environmental impact statement summary for the public (ESP) provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environment Management Bureau – Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) ahead of the public hearing for the province’s application for environmental compliance certificate on May 20 at the Barangay San Isidro covered court.

“The project aims to address the increasing water demand in the province in particular, the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Manapla and Victorias City, thereby improving households’ access to clean, safe and resilient water supply,” the ESP said.

The NBWSP-Malogo River, which will extract 16 million liters per day (MLD) of raw water from said river, also aims to improve households access to clean, safe and resilient water supply and to gradually shift from current groundwater abstraction to sustainable surface water utilization to supply the water service providers in the proposed service areas.

Among the project’s key impacts is providing “positive contribution to the local economy, improved access to safe water supply, thereby addressing health sanitation issues and increasing awareness to protect the environment.”

Similar to the proposed Negros Bulk Water Supply Imbang Watershed-Hinalinan River Project in Silay City, the NBWSP-Malogo River will run for 38 years, inclusive of the three-year construction period, with full operation set to start in 2028.

The EMB-NIR conducted a public hearing for the first project on April 27.

The Negros Bulk Water Supply-Imbang Watershed-Hinalinan River Project will extract 20 MLD of raw water from the Imbang River, with an intake point specifically located in the Hinalinan River in Barangay Guimbala-on.

The water supply is intended to serve about 50,000 households in the cities of Bacolod, Silay, and Talisay. (PNA)