THE dispute over water rights and supply between Richli Corporation and the town of Balilihan seemed to be far from over yet as both are trading barbs and battling legally.
Recently, Engr. Godofredo Laga of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Engineering district I bared that the town’s bulk water supply project costing P85 million has been temporarily suspended or halted.
The stoppage was ordered after the connection of the main pipeline from the Bugwak Spring across the river being put up in an elevation was badly affected by super typhoon ‘Odette’ that hit the province, he said.
This also prompted to lay floaters holding grip of the main pipe across the river to distribution line to flush out muds and debris accumulated in the pipeline after the typhoon. The said project is 86% completed but halted since the typhoon hit here, he said in radio interview.
DPWH said that the town’s contractor has to redesign the structure via overhead way for the pipeline to pass thru from the source (Bugwak Spring).
Report said that DPWH is implementing the bulk water project of Balilihan.
Another concern is the water permit. The NWRB, in its decision dated September 3, 2021, has dismissed the “protest filed by Balilihan for lack of merit.”
The board also said that “the conditional water permit number 11-18-20-004 may now be issued to Richli Corporation.”
The case “Water Use Conflict” docketed Case No. 2020-226 was filed by Balilihan against the corporation.
“Balilihan is a grantee of CWP No. 01-22-20-008 for Bugwak Spring located in barangay Sto. Nino, Balilihan, Bohol with a volume of 227.18 liter per second (lps).”
“Richli Corporation filed WPA No. VII-BOH-2020-10-006 over the same water source for municipal purpose,” the decision said.
As this developed, the NWRB, in its Resolution dated June 2, 2022, has revoked the CWP No. 01-22—20-008 of Balilihan “without prejudice to the filing of application for water permit showing compliance with the cited provision.”
Richli filed case against Balilihan in “Water Use Conflict Case No. 2021-011” petitioning the cancellation of the latter’s CWP.
But Balilihan’s conditional water permit (CWP) is still valid, according to Bohol Tribune.
This surfaced following executive director Sevillo David of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) sent a letter to Mayor Pureza V. Chatto, informing the latter of its water permit legitimacy.
The town was able to comply with the terms set by the agency, like submission of environmental clearance certificate (ECC).
“The NWRB executive said that Balilihan’s CWP remains valid if there is a resolution dated June 2, 2022 canceling the town’s permit to draw water from Bugwak Spring for the centralized bulk water project.”
In the same news report, Chatto asked for fairness in developing and operating the town’s water system, saying she will “continue to work for the dream of the people of her town to have a reliable waterworks system.” (rvo)
