Stop Bohol town water project, DENR asked

MANILA, Philippines — A town mayor in Bohol is asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to stop a neighboring municipality from extracting water in their jurisdiction.

In a letter to DENR Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Sevilla Mayor Juliet Dano sought to stop a P95-million water project of the Balilihan local government unit (LGU) in the town.

“As indicated in its water permit, LGU Balilihan should be extracting water from Bugwak Spring in Sto. Niño in Balilihan, but the truth is they have been extracting water from Bugwak Spring in Magsaysay, Sevilla contrary to their approved water permit,” Dano said.

He said “utmost attention and immediate action” are needed, noting that the project is a violation of DENR regulations.
Dano filed a similar petition before the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).

“The actual (water) diversion point is located in Magsaysay, Sevilla as evidenced by the installations made by the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways)-Bohol first engi-neering district,” Dano said in her petition before the NWRB.