Council wants safeguards for sitio water system

CEBU, Philippines – The Committee on Environment of the Cebu City Council wants a safeguard for any negative environmental effect that may result from a water system project by a private entity.

The City Council Committee on Environment headed by Councilor Nestor Archival came up with a report on the resolution authorizing the local chief executive to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the city and Abejo Builders Corporation.

Abejo is a supplier of bulk potable water to the Metropolitan Cebu Water District which proposed the putting up of a water system for the various settlement or sitios in the city where there is zero or minimal water system facility and to households with no water, at no cost to the city government.

The project is going to be called “Barangay Water System”.

According to the committee, there is a need that a section be inserted into the MOA explicitly mandating Abejo to give due regard to the ecological changes resulting from the construction of the water projects.

“Such is needed in order to balance the needs of the development and the protection of the environment and that it shall comply with the conditions of beneficial use and other terms and conditions imposed by the National Water Resources Board,” according to the committee report.

Beneficial use of water is the “utilization of water in the right amount during the period that the water is needed for producing the benefits for which the water is appropriated.”

The committee also suggests that the MOA must contain a specific provision stating that the water extracted within the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu City shall exclusively be distributed to city inhabitants.

“Abejo is therefore prohibited to supply water outside of Cebu City,” according to Archival.

The committee would also want to know the extent of the assistance that Abejo will undertake in establishing the barangay water system and the participation of the barangays.

The MOA is therefore recommended for further review by its proponent Councilor Jose Daluz III prior to its approval.

Water resources in Cebu are said to be dwindling because of unhealthy practices. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)