THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in a letter demanded Sevilla officialdom to restore the dismantled water equipment and paraphernalia at Bugwak Spring, the flashpoint of water source controversy between Balilihan and Sevilla towns.
Balilihan Vice-Mayor Trisha Chatto in her facebook post bared this: “Gihatagan og demand letter sa DPWH ang LGU Sevilla nga ipabalik o restore ang water pump nga ilang gikuha kay apil ni siya sa project sa DPWH.” (The DPWH has demanded thru a letter that Sevilla restore the water pump and other equipment it demolished since these are part of the agency’s project). This came after the ocular inspection of the area.
“Base sa gisabutan sa mga Regional and Provincial heads sa DENR, DILG ug DPWH, naghimo ang mga ahensya og joint ocular inspection o pagsubay didto sa Bugwak Spring uban sa LGU Balilihan, LGU Sevilla, ug Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO),” Trisha Chatto said. (Based on the agreement between the regional and provincial heads of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, DPWH with representatives of both towns and PPDO to conduct an ocular inspection of the water spring).
The Bohol Island News said in its website said that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) asked the local government of Sevilla in Bohol for the immediate restoration of the dismantled water system structures at the controversial Bugwak Spring.
“…this office requests that the structures/equipment that were removed/ dismantled be returned/ restored in its original and operational state prior to its removal/ dismantling,” the DPWH said in letter addressed to Sevilla Mayor Juliet Dano on June 9.
The letter was signed by DPWH-Bohol First District Engineer John Paul Gascon and concurred by Regional Director Ernesto Gregorio Jr.
“The Department, through the undersigned, is sincerely requesting that the return/restoration of the same be commenced within a period of three (3) days and that the return/restoration be completed within a period of thirty (30) days from receipt hereof,” the DPWH added.
Dano ordered the demolition of the structures of the Bugwak Bulk Water Project.
However, former Tagbilarn city Mayor Atty. Dan Neri Lim, said to be the legal counsel of Sevilla, was quoted as saying in news report that only the court can direct Sevilla to put the dismantled water equipment/structure back to the Bugwak spring.
Sevilla authorities led by Mayor Juliet Dano have dismantled last week all pipes and other structure that is allegedly illegally constructed in Bugwak Spring without their consent in a bid to protect the rights of the Sevilla town.
The main basis of Sevilla’s drastic move is the approved Sevilla Resolution No. 2023-110. It authorized the mayor “to absolutely and permanently remove all pipes and structures illegally constructed by unknown individual/entity at Bugwak Spring, Magsaysay, Sevilla, Bohol after disclosure by regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as confirmed by Bohol DPWH Engineering I that those pipes and other structures are not part of the plan/contract and/or program of works in relation to their project of construction of water supply system in Balilihan, Bohol.” (rvo)
