By CESAR JOLITO III
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has called for the protection of local watersheds while urging government agencies and stakeholders to address environmental and community concerns before approving the proposed P1.2-billion Negros Occidental bulk water supply project.
In a statement dated June 24, released on the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, Alminaza emphasized that safeguarding water sources is both a moral obligation and a matter of justice for present and future generations.
“Water is a gift from God that sustains every person, every community and every living creature. Protecting the sources of that gift is not simply an environmental responsibility; it is a moral obligation,” the bishop said.
Alminaza cited a position paper submitted by the Green Alert Network Inc., St. Joseph the Worker Parish, and participants of the Panuba-suba Educational Journey, who urged Church leaders and government authorities to withhold approvals for the proposed project until concerns over watershed protection, environmental sustainability and community welfare are fully addressed.
The position paper was based on consultations involving more than 75 participants who visited the Malogo River and communities in Silay City’s Barangay San Vicente and E.B. Magalona’s Sitio Calaptan.
Among the issues raised were the condition of the Northern Negros Natural Park and Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park; the adequacy of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment; the lack of studies on underground aquifers and potential saltwater intrusion; and the need for greater transparency, meaningful public participation, and watershed restoration before large-scale water extraction begins.
The groups also called for host communities to be given priority access to clean water and for local residents to play a central role in protecting and managing the island’s watersheds.
Alminaza warned that continued degradation of watersheds through forest loss, encroachment, weak governance, and underinvestment threatens not only water security but also food security and the island’s resilience to climate change.
While reaffirming the Church’s support for development that benefits the common good, the bishop stressed that such projects must respect both people and the environment.
“Water cannot be treated merely as a commodity to be extracted. It is a shared gift entrusted to us by God and must be managed responsibly, equitably and sustainably,” he said.
The bishop maintained that development should leave watersheds healthier than before through forest restoration, protection of recharge areas, stronger watershed governance, and equitable sharing of project benefits, particularly with communities that have long served as stewards of these ecosystems.
He also underscored the importance of science-based decision-making, independent environmental assessments and genuine consultation with communities directly affected by projects of this scale.
“When serious questions are raised about the long-term health of our watersheds and the welfare of affected communities, prudence calls on us to address these concerns openly, honestly and transparently before irreversible decisions are made,” Alminaza said.
He concluded by encouraging government agencies, project proponents, local government units, scientists, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, farmers, and faith communities to engage in transparent and accountable dialogue to ensure that development in Negros remains sustainable and serves the common good.
“The future of Negros will not be secured by the volume of water we extract, but by how faithfully we protect the forests, rivers and communities that make water possible,” the bishop said./CCJ, WDJ