By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

The Bacolod City council has approved a resolution encouraging all barangays in the city to conduct stricter monitoring of water refilling stations operating without necessary permits and to assist in the identification and geotagging of water sources within their respective jurisdiction.

Councilor Em Ang said the steady increase in the number of water refilling stations in the city requires rigorous regulation to ensure that drinking water strictly complies with Philippine National Standards.

She said it was highlighted during a recent water quality committee meeting that several refilling stations are operating without the required business and operational permits, including the mandatory certificate of potability, thereby posing potential health hazards to consumers.

The councilor added that pursuant to local regulations, including City Ordinance No. 1128, all water providers and refilling stations, especially those utilizing dual sourcing from deep wells and the Bacolod City Water District, are mandated to secure initial and operational permits before operating.

Ang, chairperson of the city council committee on health and sanitation, noted that Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, tasks local government units with promoting the general welfare, which includes the provision of basic services and facilities related to public health and sanitation.

She said villages serve as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies in the community, making the cooperation of barangay officials indispensable in regulating local businesses and preventing the proliferation of undocumented and unsafe water suppliers.

She added that collaborative monitoring at the barangay level will also aid in facilitating the necessary physicochemical and bacteriological water testing to ensure community health safety./MAP, WDJ